San Antonio Texas on Sunday the day after the closing party and closing ceremony!

 It’s over and out. Loved every minute except for 2!!! Loved the friendship from all, loved to catch up with friends I had not seen ” for ages ” and loved being part of this 32d WGC.
It had for me 2 downs but 98 UP’s!!!!!! And the up’s will remain in the memory.

My name Ritz was the “Hottest topic ” on google for several days, what about that,I seem to have brought soaring-joy to many I do not even know. People called their friends in Uvalde and wanted to talk briefly with me as they knew I would be busy. I was even asked for signatures???!!!!
I was really touched. This job is so easy for me, I sit down and I write that’s it!!!
Observing is a gift, more then writing I guess.
Got a mail from
—my idol Ed Kilbourne, [ when I wrote about the dust at the field , he could taste the dust between his teeth] —a big friendly hug from DB,[seems special! was special! ]he was during the comps as I said before SO relaxed and pleased with his big ship]
— invitations to several private parties[I could not attend all as I did not want my friends to drive me up and down all the time!] and to be honest I sometimes feel “age” as after a long day of sitting in a hot steamy windy tent I fell at 8.30 PM in bed and slept!!!!
I met the young man , the brilliant former student , as Loek Boermans calls him, of the University of Delft , heavily involved with the Concordia. He happened to be a fan from me and I am a fan from him now, what a down- to -earth -pleasant young man.On the picture to the r.;Johannes Dillinger.To the left Stefan Benardie also from the University of Delft.

My bosses Bill and Rand were HAPPY with me , the blogs put their soaringcafe even more in the middle of the attention!
They  paid 2 nights in the fancy Sheraton for me on the RIVER WALK in San Antonio, to relax and…wow is it beautiful here.

Carol her husband Bill and Rand.

The mid-air-collision on the last but one day was a bit of a damper on the joy of the earlier days. Luckily Peter Hartmann [Austria] bailed out safely and landed with his parachute in a pretty remote area,  while the French pilot Louis Bouderlique could fly home. 2 Young German pilots Susanne and David saw the emergency of the situation straight away, they aborted their task to stay over the crash and warned the SAR and CD ,giving them the co-ordinates of the spot. When he heard the SAR helicopter would take longer , Mark Hufstuttler the CD from 1991 jumped in his helicopter and flew straight to Peter to pick him up. After they arrived , Peter was checked straight away by the WGC dr. at the side of the helicopter and Mark carried the life saving parachute in his hands. In between Louis had landed at the field escorted by David and Susanne!!! What a great way of showing ….you are a friend/mate!
Peter was checked in hospital as a precaution but was back on briefing the next day together with Louis. This morning they walked in the farewell parade.

Back to other business.

 Glad readers keep reading my own blog as well, now it is less “good”.
Got a mail from Holland [Thanks Frank] with the correct scores of the Pre JWGC in Poland. On soaringspot they combined the 2 classes in club one from the ” older boys/girls ” and one from the JWGC club class. I could have figured that out when I would have had more time. Sorry about that
So here you are;

Official results:
Junior Pre-World Club
1. Stefan Telkamp
2. Fabian Stumpfl
3. Erich Hinetrholzer

Junior Pre-World Standard:
1. Petr Svoboda
2. Martin Piskacek
3. Jacek Flis

Team Cup Results:
1. Austria
2. Czech Republic
3. Netherlands
Again CONGRATULATIONS to all young ones!!!!!

6 Days and 2 cancelled ones during the Club class Nationals in France. Guests won; Roman Mracek and Miloslav Cink from the Czech Rep. but they few HC and can’t be CHAMPION, so Julien Henry [LS4] won these French Nationals with 3523 points. Runner up Eric Soubrier [Pegase] with 3486 points.
Brian Spreckley flew as well HC in the Libelle. In the end of this year he will be chief steward in Chaves, while Peter Ryder will be again the president of the JURY.

Uli Gmelin and his wife Chrissie and their kute little son  Fin, will go slowly from Uvalde to Chaves as well , travelling  4 months with the camper to the next WGC. What a life!!!!

First time since 3 weeks that I have time to check the OLC again. Pleased to see Bert Schmelzer jr. had another nice flight this time from Vinon, visiting the Matterhorn and fly around it. Gilles Navas had some great flights from  Vinon as well. Looking forward to Bert’s pictures!

 When I am back home I will be back to my normal self in my own blog. Cheers for now, Ritz

UVALDE TEXAS on Wednesday August 15 2012

Good morning, from Uvalde and look at this news we got!!!

See http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=2686332 .—

On top of that young Stefan Telkamp was 2d during this Pre WGC with only 37 points behind the number 1. Good on him and congratulations to ALL boys for such a fantastic flight!! Also the last day showed a day win in club class for Nick Hanenburg from Holland. As you see Holland has a future in soaring, it even looks bright!!!!

The CIM in Italy continues till the 17th and my friend Jelmer was last on day 7 what a pity. He lost some places now overall in the 2 seater class and is on  spot 6 after 7 days!
Pleased to see that after 7 days Alvaro is first in open class in his ASH 31.And as pleased to see young Davide on spot 1 in the club class scores after 7 days! Only 40 points ahead of local pilot/hero Luca Urbani who flew several WGC’s as well in the past.
The Austrians are always flying well in Rieti, and Werner Amann shows it by being the best in 18 m. class after 7 days! Mate Gregor Stögner is on spot 2 .

These Italians are NOT in Rieti this year. They are here. Alberto Sironi, Stefano Ghiorzo and the hard woirking TC Roberto[specially for Marina and Giorgio!!!!]

Heard there have been some 1000 km. flights on the OLC in Germany, over the last month. Sorry have n’t had time to check.It pleases me to hear that the weather in Europe seems to be good.

For all the news about the WGC you can go to www.soaringcafe.com 
Unfortunately some people can not read us anymore. We are on a public net and have been hacked. We mentioned it to the server, the problem should be solved by now I hope!!!

Greetings from Ritz in windy Uvalde where we are about to begin day 10 with AAT’s . Cheers

Uvalde Texas Sunday August 12 2012

 REST DAY today

 After 7 days of practise and 7 days of sometimes pretty hard work in the air and ON the ground pilots and crews enjoy a WELL DESERVED rest day . They cope with heat, dust , and unstabel weather but….they all love flying here In Uvalde.
Look for all the news, 3 times refreshed or updated  on www.soaringcafe.com   where as I heard the visitors have beaten all records till now. GOOD as we want to inform as many about our great sport soaring.The last week will be for sure the most exciting one. Go for scores to www.soaringspot.com
Both links are from PROUD sponsors of this WGC.

There is more then flying in Uvalde as one of my favourite places to go Rieti has it’s yearly CIM.I have been writing there as well.
What’s happening there?
They have flown 4 days now in 6 classes and I am very pleased to see that one ” of my” juniors from 2005 , Jelmer Wassenaar,is on the top position in the 2 seater class with 3415 points and winning the day yesterday in the DG 1001 TE. Jelmer works for DG as well after finishing his university degree in Delft.
Look for all other results at www.soaringspot.com

Talking about juniors…the Dutch juniors are flyinmg in Venlo in the S of Holland. They had 3 cancelled days but also 5 flying days and new names from p[otential WGC pilots are on the list. Overall at this stage;Christiaan Verhulst in a discus.

The JUNIOR pre worlds had a few cancelled days as well but also 5 days of soaring. 2x LS 8 on top in standard class and a Brawo on top in club class, sorry never heard of a Brawo befoore , have to do some home work here and a great 2d place for the ASW 20 BLJ from Stefan Telkamp.

In Szeged they continued the FLATLAND CUP after a brake because of the WGC over there. Look for all results and news at www.soaringspot.com

In Australia for 3 of my good friends a motion was carried for Life Membership from the SRGC ; Mike Burns, Ingo Renner and Bill Harvie of course I second that as well.

Cheers Ritz, back to business here.,  

Greetings from a bit less hot Uvalde on Tuesday afternoon August 7 2012.

Wow this competetion is getting better and better. Are you following me on www.soaringcafe.com? Pilots I expect to be good are less good and others are winning. But it is still a long way to go.

The juniors in Poland are doing a great job as well, flying their Pre JWGC. After 2 days of rest due to cancellation they flew yesterday again;
In club class 2 Dutch pilots won, while in standard class quite a few outlanded.See for results www.soaringspot.com

Here is the latest from Helge on SEGELFLIEGEN INTERNATIONAL.

Hello glider pilots,

we just finished the next edition of “segelfliegen INTERNATIONAL” –
remember, we decided to publish it bi-monthly! So here it is with 50
pages full of soaring stories. These are just some of the articles that
you can read on your PC, Mac, iPad or Android-based device:

– Getting out of a cloud if it is too late to avoid
– Test: iGlide 2.0
– The Horten IV will be flying soon!
– Gliding in JAPAN
– How to create a website for your club
– FAI-Badges: The forgotten Incentive

Of course, you can browse through the magazine free of charge before
buying like in any “real” newsstand. Just follow this link:

https://www.zinio.com/checkout/publisher/index.jsp?productId=500642607&offer=500397513&rf=Bgverl_SIE_ci

You can also find us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/segelfliegen-international or at
http://www.segelfliegen-international.com.

Most of you are not thinking yet of flying overseas. One pilot does. Jörgen Thomsen. Jörgen and his wife Brigitte bought theirselves a nice new Arcus and they are going to fly it from Stonefield in Australia. Great to see that Stonefield got the attention of pilots after the great reports of young pilots Fabian Peitz and Benjamin Bachmeier both flying their very first 1000 km. over there.
The LS 10 from Jörgen moves there as well and will be for sale AFTER the season. So when you are interested let me know and I will inform Jörgen.

 Great pictures again from a awesome flight from Bert Schmelzer jr.Enjoy!

Uvalde Texas   August 5 2012

ritzdeluy@hotmail.com    www.glidinginternational.com     www.soaringcafe.com

As you know by now, just click on the soaringcafe link and you are sitting first row to follow the WGC.

I was a bit sad to miss the Olympics , but I do like the way the USA shows their talents as well. Was very impressed with the “fab/fierce 5” the gymnastic girls from team USA and even more impressed with swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps , …who won more Olympic medals then anyone before. And yesterday I arrived home and saw how the Dutch 50 m girls won gold and bronze so I put my head statisfied on my pillow.

The 7 practise days are over here in Uvalde and on the last day only half or less were flying. They had enough practise. Yesterday at 7 the safety briefing was the last important issue before the start of this WGC. The parade and opening were fantastic and everybody enjoyed it immense. Look at soaring cafe site for all the pictures and stories.

 Patrick Puskeilers enthusiasm on FB is so nice to see. Here is his comment;
—“Es hat geklappt :Ich bin jetzt Deutscher Juniorenmeister der Clubklasse! Vielen Dank an Fisch für den geilen Flieger, Marie für die Hilfe und Sarah und Krümel für das tolle Team! Es hat echt Spaß gemacht ;—“

After 8 days of flying he took the CUP home in club class. Fabian Siebwurst won the standard class.The last day was cancelled in both classes.

In Poland the Pre Junior Worlds are in progress and you can see the results at www.soaringcafe.com
Day 3 will be on today and the stories on ;www.jwgc2013.eu

Pretty clear this website is created by Katja from Finland and she will arrive here today.

For the rest of the nes please go to www.soaringcafe.com

Cheers Ritz

Uvalde Texas August 1 2012

ritzdeluy@hotmail.com     www.glidinginternational.com   www.soaringcafe.com

In the middle of the practise days, 2 to go today and tomorrow. Then the opening and then the real thing will start! Looking forward to it.
Not all pilots fly, you really need a rest day in between.
I have never been drinking SO much as here.Most of the people are very kind . It was great to catch up with all the friends, look for news over them in my blogs at soaringcafe. Here some impressions in pictures.

Pictures; A Dutch trailer on USA/Texas soil, a South African Swimming pool, a JS1-2C wingtip ,USA 18 m.  Bill Elliott concentrating and TC Teemu from Finland helping out his team

The pre worlds for juniors in Leszno had 2 practise days and will be on from 2 -12 August. Try to keep an eye on it.

Was talking to the Danish wife from Arne yesterday and asked her if Jan Andersen still was flying. We met him at quite some comps in the past lovely guy with a lovely family , 4 kids if I remember well and a good pilot too.
He was she said …not in open class this time but in standard class during the Sun Air Cup in Arnborg. They started with a cancelled day,  had 2 flying days, 4 cancelled days and yesterday and the day before they were up in the air again. And Jan tops the list at this stage in standard class.  
nice to see Ib is flying there as well as Rasmus. 

Klippeneck is on as well since July 27 with 48 pilots in 4 classes. One of the pilots flying there is Bert Schmelzer jr and…when he flies we can expect great pictures again  one already above and here is the link to the rest, enjoy;

https://picasaweb.google.com/101367179377196465151/29072012KlippeneckRidgerunningAtTheSchwabischeAlb

Not so much time to do research so see you next Sunday.

Cheers Ritz

On my way to Texas

UVALDE TEXAS  Sunday July 29 2012

ritzdeluy@hotmail.com     www.glidinginternational.com      www.soaringcafe.com

A WARM hello from Uvalde, where it is 38 dgr. today.I left Holland at 7.20 by plane to London yesterday and arrived here at 4PM in San Antonio.Nearly 22 hours I was up and about.

Arriving at the airport the first glider passing over my head while finishing on the first practise day , was Dutch pilot Peter Batenburg in T4. We were just late to see the CONCORDIA arrive for the first time at Garner Field.
It was very nice to catch up straight away with the Dutch team and a few others. Spoke with Dick Butler as well and made a picture from his CONCORDIA.

Other news; He was 3d at day 1 during the UK Club Class Nationals and I was ready to follow him as I normally do ,and …….40 on day 2 but….with a reason.Talking about Ge Dale!
I don’t particularly like to write about incidents or accidents,  but when a pilot is very open about it himself and nobody is terribly injured, I share his thoughts to may be learn from it.
What happened? Some parts from a BBC interview I received via Australia!
—” About 50 aircraft were taking part in the 2012 British Club Class Gliding National Championships, held by the Cambridge Gliding Centre at Little Gransden near St Neots.
Gerrard Dale, was taking part in this competition when  a mid air collission  happened near Newmarket on Monday.

“I remember stabilising the glider after the aircraft touched and thinking I could maybe fly away, but then the thing went right out of control.”

Mr Dale said he had got rid of the canopy and his straps and was thrown out of the glider which was falling nose-first.

“I looked down to my left and I could see the glider upside down and quite close, but then I realised it was falling faster than I was.

“I saw the woods and the railway line and the main road, so I had to learn to fly the ‘chute pretty quickly.

“Apparently when I was lying in the field some member of the public turned me over and put me in the recovery position, which might have saved my life because I was coughing and choking”

Ge called it according to this BBC news,”an intense experience”  and was treated in hospital for bruises and bumps and a check up, as he hit his head on the ground and was unconsious for a few minutes, “AFTER….his first thought was” I am not going to die after all” and  still later, he was most sorry that his glider had ended up in a tree.
 “I’m really annoyed because I did a lot of work on that aircraft, and seeing it hanging in the tree is deeply irritating.”

We all are happy that “nothing” happened!!!!! The other pilot landed the glider and was OK!!!
The comps continued and of course there are more interesting pilots to follow, as former world champion Andy Davis, several ladies who just flew the Pre Worlds in Issoudun and our former tuggie at Sportavia Tim Milner. Tim even managed to win day 3 and talking about the ladies they, Ayala and Liz,  were 1 and 2 on day 4.
On day 5 a 2.00 AAT and again Ayala was the day-winner. She then was on top overall as well with Liz as a good runner up with only 21 points behind. Tim was 4 and Andy 5.
Today they have a 143 km task , their last one and  7 days that is pretty good!!!By the way , Tim won day 6 as well and starts on the last day on spot ONE overall , with 10 points ahead on Liz.

The Juniors in Germany continued their soaring in pretty marginal circumstances.
On Wednesday,  the day for the standard pilots was cancelled,  but the Club pilots had to go up! After a “miserable” [small mistake with BIG effect]  first day with 0 points for him and  a day 2 with 0 points for all pilots, young Belgian guest-pilot Jeroen,  had a good day and was 3d in the LS 7WL !!! 6 from 39 in this class did n’t finish!
On Thursday they  happily started with a 2.30 AAT for standard class. They started a bit after 12 and at 12.37 they were all back on the ground again. In the end “it” worked.
In standard class Enrique Levin flew 261 km. in 2.33 in a Discus 2A.
In club the daily winner was Patrick Puskeiler flying their 2 hour AAT in 1.59,7 and 209 km. in the St.Libelle 201B. [from Arndt Hovestadt] He flies together/combine their efforts,  with Sebastian Nägel and Sarah Drefensted who were on spot 3 and 5 in LS 1.
Day 6 and 7 were cancelled, a pity!!!

 By the way the French Juniors have been together in Cambrai where in the past also a JWGC was held. An A and B class this year with a total of 41 pilots. They finished yesterday with  6 out of  8 days flying. The last 2 days have been canceled.

One of the active clubs in Australia is the Mount Beauty Gliding Club, with a pretty busy weekend program even in winter. I arrived in hot conditions in Uvalde while they have on Saturday ” isolated showers falling as snow over 1100 m. Cloudy and wind from the SW with 15 to 20km./h.”
71 Flights last weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a bit special as pilots and friends were invited to send the IS 28B2 off in style with a BBQ , after the very last flight as MBGC glider was made at 17.26. They ordered an ASK21 which hopefully arrives in the end of September!

Enough from Uvalde, back to www.soaringcafe.com  for more updates, as they are ready for the launches. Tuggies drive out to the field and one flies low over my tent, great feeling!. Enjoy,

CU on Wednesday, cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn Wednesday July 25 2012

ritzdeluy@hotmail.com      www.glidinginternational.com      www.soaringcafe.com

FINALLY good weather , also in the middle of Europe!!!!! And it started already on Sunday with several nice long flights. And…..even better…it stays atleast till Friday. Today we will have around 30dgr. here in Holland.
Was it earlier only Spain or the USA with top weather, now the Mid of Europe had happy weather as well. So pilots flew over 1000 km from Bayreuth in Bayern where they struggled about a month ago to make a valid competition. Not now as several pilots flew big distances and a lot of 750 FAI triangles!!!
Loved the 800 km. flight from Ludwigshafen in an LS 4WL!
FINALLY over 2000 flights on the OLC again. Not even ONE day over 1000 flights in JULY, our summer month till last Sunday with 2479 .
Even Holland had 111 pilots up in the air, with several distances over 600 km. and quite a few 500 FAI triangles. That’s weather!
Yesterday it looked like everybody was in Fuentemilanos. I counted 27 pilots on page 1 from the OLC , not bad!!! Very familiar names as well. And …another 1000 k for Guy in the new Quintus M. , the third from 4 declared flights in Fuente, not bad either!

Picture courtesy Joop Everse

The practise day was a very good one, great weather also in Stölln where 70 German  junior pilots  meet and fly to see who is the best in standard and club class. Not everybody flew the 281 km. racing task, as some tried their glider and the area even over 500 km.
On Monday , no choice, pilots had to fly the task on the first competition day with for standard class a race task from 290 km. and for Club ; 258 km.
In standard class the winner with 1000 points was Fabian Siebenwurst with only 2 points more then Benjamin Bachmeier who flew , as you surely remember his first 1000 last year in  Australia. Alexander Späth was 4^th.
In club class Felix Bauer in ASW 15 B got the 1000 points on day 1, Fabian Peitz who flew a 1000 as well in Australia was 23d today and another well known pilot and former champion Patrick Puskeiler was 6^th in St Libelle. Sebastian Nägel was 7^th.[LS1d]

Benjamin and Fabian not in Australia but in a paddock in Germany.
courtesy ; shared from FB and Marco Barth. 

 On Tuesday “the young ones” had to fly direction South with blue thermals. Quite a lot did n’t make it home, to be correct NOBODY, except for 1 pilot who was so lucky to have an engine to bring him home. A pity then that means 70 outlandings!!!! 
Alexander Späth was 2d and “got” 673 points in Standard class and in club class it seems no valid day,  as I only see 0 points behind the names. Anyway 3 pilots flew over 100 km and 4 between 90 and 100 km.
By the way…In France 40 young pilots fly for the French National Junior Title. Enough young people in soaring.

nice weather in Uvalde!

Nice weather as well in Uvalde. Noticed that Tom [Claffey- Australia] flew from Garner Field a nice third flight from 582 km. Also Antti [Lehto-Finland] was in the air instead of the great swimming pool  belonging to their hotel. He flew 450 km. on his first flight in Uvalde and yesterday 507 km..
The Trotters, Lisa and Peter [Australia] choose for flying as well.
2 Polish pilots flew yesterday 750 km in Nimbus 4T and and 682 in ASG 29E. Good practise!!
My Dutch mates got their cars, as I read , pretty new ones and have prepared their gliders to fly. Frans had to rig 2 open class gliders in the hot sun and fill them with water.
The German team has one of the most “Texan houses” I have ever seen!!! You should see the pictures at ; http://www.daec-segelflug.de/events/12/wmuvalde/

 
Attie and Uys ready to depart on the practise day and…….The wingtip from the glider from Bruce to make from 18 m……… 21 m. A nice surprise for me!!!!
pictures from the FB site from SA and as requested, I spread the word as well to support them, look at;
http://www.facebook.com/SouthAfricanGlidingTeamUvalde2012

Till the last moment I hoped that Giorgio Galetto  would be still able to fly in Uvalde, but I know now that Ricardo Brigliadori will be the only pilot in 18 m. class for Italy. That’s life too.Next time again!!!!

Enough news now  from Alphen, if nothing VERY special happens, my next blog will be from Uvalde, either from my apartment or from Garner Field.
Soaring-eu continues on Wednesday and Sunday , but ALL Uvalde news will be in my soaringcafe blog , EVERY DAY. Really looking forward to be back in Uvalde.
And to catch up with EVERYBODY!
Cheers Ritz CU in /from UVALDE TEXAS!!!!
Hope I survive Heathrow on the morning after the opening of the Olympic Games!!!!!! And…that customs is not going on strike as they want to.
Again www.soaringcafe.com

Alphen aan den Rijn     Sunday July 22 2012

ritzdeluy@hotmail.com     www.glidinginternational.com     www.soaringcafe.com

For ALL the news about Uvalde you can click on soaringcafe , [above] and you find the LATEST and also what happened last week. A WGC is the highest form of competition soaring in our sport,  so I will spend a lot of time on it, not only on the Soaringcafe-site.
Without forgetting in this blog all the other news, you are used too. I continue my blog as well on Sunday and Wednesday while being in Uvalde , as writing every day for SOARING CAFE.

On the way in a glider from Houston to Uvalde.

As you know Bill Elliott and Rand Baldwin have set up the “cafe” to share our soaring stories, news about competitions and interesting technical news. Last week we have invited all TC’s or a member of the team  participating at Garner Field to be part of the soaringcafe -blogs. Most of them have answered with a YES and you can click on Uvalde already now, to read all the latest by the several teams. So on ONE spot you find lot’s of stories from the different teams in Uvalde.

http://soaringcafe.com/category/special-events/2012-wgc-uvalde/

One of the HOT items in SOARINGCAFE of course was and is the Concordia. Dick’s stories about the progress of this magic project,  got lot’s of readers! I look forward to catch up with Dick again after many years and to make my OWN picture of the Concordia. What a fabulous project he started!!! What I heard the glider flies super and I hope Dick will have great safe and fast flights in it.
As said before I look forward to the difference in performance in open class this year. It will be VERY interesting.
The gliders have been added to the pilots now and at this stage I counted 4 JS1-B gliders in open class flown by the Aussies and ……what Aussies former WGC champion in 1991 Brad Edwards and topper Bruce Taylor AND…. another 2 are flown by the Goudriaan brothers, who both fly WGC’s as long as I know them! So 4 JS1-B in open class !!!!!!
Further on Tilo and his men worked HARD , very hard!!! 7 Quintus M gliders are competing, 2 x EB 29, 2 Antares 23E, 3x EB 28, 3x ASW 22 BLE, 1 ASH 25, 2x Nimbus 4T and the Concordia!!!!

Here is the news , for when you have not read it already, from the 21 span JS 1- C I got last Friday!
—” As you mentioned the rumour of an Open Class JS1 on your blog (& Soaring Café), I thought you might like to know the rumour is now official see
http://www.jonkersailplanes.co.za/index.php?pageid=6 for a photo and http://www.jonkersailplanes.co.za/index.php?pageid=128 for a video.

Courtesy Iain Baker.

18 m and 15 m are OF COURSE interesting too, the first WGC with the JS 1 in 18 m. class and the 2 owners of the business Attie and Uys are flying them their selves!
More JS 1 gliders as a total of 7 x JS1-B have entered till now and 2 xJS1-A. Also 6 x Ventus ,2x Antares 18S, 2x LAK and 17 x ASG 29.

In 15 m. I counted 17x a Ventus, 8x an ASW 27, 1x a Lak, 5 x an ASG 29 4 x a Diana [SZD 56] and 1x an LS 10.
So all BIG glider business will be represented. Now the pilots have to do the rest.
The weather might be an influence too. Normally you would think , hot and dry, but it has rained quite a lot over the last few days with thunderstorms and wind as well. Could be interesting. As the rest from the USA suffers from heat waves we might have that as well. But …the weather is the weather we have to deal with it as it comes!

Other news as the Summer competition in Malden continued. The 2.30 AAT was flown but…..no finishers! Patrick van Bremen Schneider, once already Dutch National Champion won the day with 124.2 km and got 36 points. The runner up with 94 km. 26 points and one pilot flew 2.4 km. In the mixed open class 2 pilots managed to fly over 100 km. One of them Thijs Pare, yes son of….Daan Pare ,he was the day-winner with 73 points in the pocket. No finishers.
That says enough about the weather. Thursday was cancelled.
But..it started to improve on Friday. Here several gliders in a paddock, on Wednesday,  pictures from Gijs Schwarte and Patrick Hoeve via FB.

 
Very green paddocks not a good sign for a nice summer!

The weather on Friday was good enough for 171 km. in club class and 202 km. in open class. Finishers as well, [ it looked pretty good here too] as 7 from 12 in Club arrived home. Under them a young lady called Sietske, very much involved in soaring [she has been in the National championship- organization- team for several years] and now she flies to maybe qualify for the Nationals and fly herself. Good on her , she was 4th on Friday in the LS 4. Daily winner in the St Cirrus was Jeroen Verkuijl who represents Holland in Chaves in Club class and flew there last year and kept a great blog.
Only 3 from 14 finished the 202 km. task. The rest was “out” between 11 and 145 km.

Yesterday they could fly again and 2 hour AAT’s on the last day would decide who would be the winners from this competition. 3 Pilots in club finished the best was Patrick with 161 km.in LS1f. Winner in this class overall was with 1161 points out of  4 days from 7, Jeroen Verkuijl.
In open class Jan van Ronnen won with 1159 points.

Also Sweden’s weather was “off ” with 5 cancelled days and 3 flown!!!!!
Luckily the last day was the  soarable day 3; and whataday/expectation!!!! 417.4 km. was the task to show who will be Sweden’s 18 m. champion. BUT…..in the end they changed the task in a distance of 218 km.. Holger Erikkson was on spot 1 on day 1, on 7 on day 2 and on 2 again yesterday, being pretty consistent he won the Nationals over 3 days in the ASH 26 E.
Torbjörn ended in the total scores [ 5th on the last day] on the 3d place just ONE point behind the runner up  Janne Nordt in a Discus 2 T; 1799 and 1798.
Yesterday it turned out to be a real top day in Sweden as one of the  pilots making great pictures at the WGC in Eskilstuna , Per Carlin, [I published a few as well!] flew 546 km in the LS1 f. from Arboga, where 2 years ago the WWGC was flown. And good old Äke Pettersson flew 632 in the Ventus 2 from Enkoping.
A pity to see that Räyskälä had only one day during their comps 2 weeks ago and Martti [Sucksdorf ] now easily flies 550 km. in the 18m. ASG 29E. What can you do!?

The Livno Adria Cup flown from Livno in Bosnia Herzegovina, was won by Italian pilot Aldo Cernezzie in the Antares/20m. in the HIGH performance class.[4604 points and 5 days out of 8]All AAT’s between 2.30 and 3.30.
Boris Zors was the best in club class in a standard cirrus with 4410 points.

BUT……It is not everywhere in Europe soup-weather. The South as Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey enjoy temperatures of up to 38 dgr. sunny conditions and it is very dry there. The farmers are complaining about the drought, as they do in several parts of the USA.
Talking about Spain they have fantastic soaring weather with over the last days a lot of great flights from Fuente and Ocana. Guy Bechtold from Luxembourg tried out his new Quintus M. , with water ballast,  with a 1000 km. flight. By the way he flew a 1000 in the Quintus already in May in Luxembourg without water and yesterday he flew another one! I like his comparison with the Quintus with and without waterballast. With is like a Ferrari and without like a Mercedes!
Also Minden and Inyokern in the USA have great soaring conditions.

Love this picture from the Quintus flown by Tilo.

The German juniors have started their National  comps in Stölln /Rhinow with a free practise day yesterday.2 Belgian participants in club class Jeroen Jennen and Jochen Schoeters. Quite a few already well known names, certainly for such young people,  in both club and standard class. Will keep you informed and I wish all the young ones a great safe and weatherwise great competition!

That’s all the news . Next Wednesday the last blog from Alphen and then the next one will be from Uvalde. CU cheers Ritz

Picture courtesy Bert Schmelzer jr.
4 teams from Kronau ready for a Bundesliga race.

Young Bert Schmelzer is back in Switzerland and shares with us his fantastic pictures again. I love them!!!!! Here are a few pictures loved by a lot of people, also “not-FB -viewers”  from his latest series “Ridgeflight towards Thun and back”.[19 pictures]

https://picasaweb.google.com/101367179377196465151/15072012RidgeflightTowardsThunAndBack#5765410552144879986

In Finland the last day from the Nationals was cancelled as well, so only ONE day. A pity.

The people flying in France in Issoudun were all very pleased with the atmosphere, as I heard. A great mix from over 100 pilots,  amongst them,  top women practising for the real stuff in Issoudun in 2013, top pilots fighting for the National titel in 18 m, “lovers”  from the “elegant ” Libelle and pilots flying the annual International competition , how could it be different???
The weather is the weather can’t help it! We all know!

Last sunday the Summer- comps started at Malden close to Nijmegen, the  place where more then 40.000  people from all over the world, to be precisely from 71 different countries, started yesterday for 4 days of walking, [unfortunately in the rain] the famous 4 Daagse! 
Not so many , but still 26 pilots started for the competition, in 2 classes, where you can qualify for the Dutch Nationals. So in general pilots compete here when they want to continue in  or like/love competition soaring.
But as it is always a great atmosphere at Malden, pilots who fly WGC already compete as well. Also pilots who just love soaring.

Between ALL the rain,  a small window was “found” to let the pilots fly that Sunday! 123 Km. for club class with as winner Gijs Schwarte in ASW19 gaining only 71 points for finishing under these pretty marginal circumstances. From 12 pilots in this class only 2 finished!
In open class nobody from the 14 pilots finished but one pilot flew over 100 km. gaining 29 points!
Monday was cancelled!
Yesterday was cancelled as well, they tried hard but no window was found. Some pilots flew local.
Today they  fly again. A bigger window,  even here more in the West, though not very flash here at the moment, but DRY finally and temperatures up to 25 dgr. after 15 the last days.
A 2.30 AAT has to be flown in open class, as well as for club. First start should be at 12.

  The airport Malden.[where I went solo!!!!]

In Holland we do have a real  soaring family as well and they are flying in Malden. It’s Dad Ferdie Kuijpers, who flew EGC’s and WGC’s in the past. [ flying in Malden the duo discus XL.]  Mum Frouwke, who is top sport co-ordinator , steward at FAI comps and she represents Holland at IGC meetings, flies in the ASW 20. Son Tim still studies to be an airline pilot , but as you know he was the JWGC winner/champion in Musbach. Daughter Maaike just finished her study at university in biology and has a new job, so no flying at this competition, but her partner Gijs Schwarte flies and won day 1. Another Schwarte ,also a Tim,  flies in LS4 and the youngest son from Frouwke and Ferdie, Jasper,  flies in club class in LS 4 as well.

   .
Ferdie, Maaike, Casper, Ger [brother from Frouwke, also a glider pilot and task setter during the last Dutch Nationals]  and Frouwke.
AND  WGC champion Tim

Miserable weather as well during the Swedish 18m. Nationals in combination with the 2 seaters.[14-21 of July] 
–172 km. on day 1 with 1 finisher from 13 participants and NO valid day.
–A 1.15 AAT on day 2 with a best result of 42.9 km. and NO valid day.
–Day 3, FINALLY,  was better!!!!218 km. was flown by ALL pilots except 1.
–Day 4; a 2.15 AAT . The 18 m ASG 29 had 297.8 km in 2.42, but handicapped the ASG  29      with 272 km in 2.23 was better and got most points;753.
Nice to see Torbjörn Hägnander is still flying.[18m. LS 10] After 4 days he is on spot 1 overall with 1333 points just 5 points before Holger Erikkson in an ASH 26.  
Torbjörn was one of the Swedish competitors in Uvalde in 1991. By the way one Swedish 18 m.  pilot , Ulf Ringertz is not competing , as he will compete in this years  WGC and should be on his way now to Texas.

A few of my soaring-mates are flying in Fuentemilanos at the moment. Good to see Michael is there as well now! And…at least they have great weather; flights up to over 800 km. in ASH 26!

Enough news so back to see if I can save  my beautiful garden after it is “ruined” by TOO much rain. Cheers Ritz