We had a lovely dinner yesterday and the “Old Bank” was full of glider pilots both inside for those who love the airco but have to deal with noise, or outside where it was still warm and windy. Both spots were occupied.
We caught up with Anton and Andrea from Austria , who just arrived for their so maniest year /season in Tocumwal. Lovely people.
The day, today December 20 ,was a real topic. 45dgr .C and wind from the East it could either be a 1000 k day or because of the Easterly ……SMOKE.

You see how we woke up this morning.
We just drove to the garage in town and the visibility is between 300 and 500 m on the ground. NEVER EVER saw this before in at least 33 stay’s in Toc.
The smell is terrible and behind that is the sadness of those who are near to the fires and suffer so much more.
This mornings message from the organizers; Briefing at 11 and “we hope for a miracle“.
I really feel sorry for ALL of them.
We have been new owners here too and each bad day when you have guests feels like a huge disappointment and even worse…..you only want the best for them but sometimes it’s beyond your control to have influence on it .

Hope the heat will improve the visibility later in the day.
By the way those who have already left for Lake Keepit yesterday, have problems too it’s raining there.

Looking back at the day from yesterday;
Butch won the 2 hour AAT, with a speed of 135.62 km./h. flying 289 km in time 2.08. He was one of the later starters. [16.10] Diana was the last to go on track, [16.21] not because she played the start game, but because she had difficulty to get higher.
By the way it was indeed Tim so low over the hangar.
He reached during the day 10.000 ft. but had great difficulties over the last km.’s.
Diana as well but she made it in and never even got to 10.000 ft.!!! But,…during her flight she found a good thermal and lead 7 other pilots to a higher spot than where they were, “maybe even saved them.”
With hopefully 2 day’s to go Butch leads [4.263 p] with 23 points for Pete Temple.Till number 7 they are in the 4000 points range.
Feel VERY sorry for Ray who out-landed. He dropped from number 1 overall to 9.

In st. /15m. Bernie won the day with a speed of 111 km. in his PIK 20. He flew 238 km.in time 2.08. Michael lost 57 points so Bernie is alone at the top at this stage.[3.714] Till number 10 they are in the 3000 p. range.

More later. Having lunch at 12 PM. with my friends TT and Jo who drove to Toc, yesterday.

11.30 AM;
Briefing is over.
They remain POSITIVE.
Tasks have been set
The wind is picking up but still at this stage from the NE.
A task; 356 for 18m/open………to the E. and N.
Don’t know yet for the other class.
www.soaringspot.com the way to go……you can look at it later
First expected launch at 2 PM.
At this stage you can’t see 18/36, but you just can see Eddie’s yellow hangar now through the smoke.
It’s very HOT. It will be 44 dgr. C all afternoon as my phone says.
For me it feels nice warm!Hope for 45 to have something “new” in my life.
As long as it does n’t start any fires.

Lesley shared some ABC news as it seems that in S.Australia roads melt under 49.9 dgr. C.
” ABC NEWS – Nullarbor was the hottest spot around the state yesterday, reaching an incredible 49.9C — the fourth hottest temperature ever recorded in Australia, overtaking Eucla in WA which reached that mark just hours earlier. “
9 NEWS says on December 18:”  A state of emergency has been declared in NSW over the next seven days amid dangerous fire conditions. “

1.45 PM;
Just back from lunch. We had a lot to talk about.
See the gliders at 36 ready to go at 2.
Will go and listen now, what’s happening.Still very hazy but not as bad as in the morning.

2 PM;
The safety officer just said/advised that all pilots can go back to an air-conditioned area. They will have 15 minutes notice via radio and phone for the start or of what’s happening next.
Got a message from one of the readers; “Thank you. It’s great to be able to ‘be there’ without being there. “
That’s what it is all about!!!!!
I moved from my “hot” seat in the front of the hangar temporal to an air-conditioned room as well.

2.45 PM;
New task for 18m./open
Task C ;243 km.Now to the West ,that makes more sense.

3 PM: THE DAY IS CANCELLED.
That’s what most pilots expected already. Bloody smoke, bloody heat.
Though I like the heat.
WP , Arnold, left with his trailer this afternoon.
At least you can say ” they tried hard.”, though I did not understand why A tasks were set to the N and E.
Last day tomorrow.
SUCH A PITY this smoke and weather ,…as I know how good Tocumwal conditions can be.
Most probably they fly over Christmas 1000 km. flights again.
It is as it is!
Even the big black flies are not hanging around in the toilet area, TOO HOT for them.
Poor “maggies” walk around with their beak open.
Wish we had a thermometer to see if we reach the magic 45!!!!

6 PM:
Got one from George and Diana. At 6 PM it was still 42 dgr.C. at the spot where I normally sit in front of the hangar.
Did miss out on the 45, but no worries.
Wind changed to the W and it is totally clear there now. The E is still a bit hazy.
Tomorrow is another day,…the last day of the Multi Class Nationals here in Toc…Hope it will be a good one.

On the South African National comps:
After a non flying day they flew again yesterday, but nothing changed in best speed …it was again for Oscar 157.53 km./h over 401 km.
John was runner up and Danish pilot Anders [Andersen,who flew in the past here too] was 3d.
Oscar is really “on fire”!!!! With 2 day’s to go he leads with more than 400 points. Between runner up, brother Laurens and their friend Arne there is only a difference of 3 points!!!!!!
Friends or not they are going to do their utmost best.
On yesterday:” some pilots saying the lift was better under the clouds, whilst others said in the blue was a lot better and it carried. One pilot had a wonderful 8.1 m/s. but average it appears to have been 4 – 5 m/s. “

CU tomorrow