Post 1.436 on Wednesday August 2 2023.

Some local news : WET,WET,WET…..
Between showers, wind and thunderstorms with hail, the Gelderse has, as every year a 3 week gliding camp. Young and old mix nicely together and fly the gliders from the club all with an E on the tail.
Or when you have your own glider, of course you can fly that one.
They brave the weather, sometimes it creates nice big windows, for a flight with a smile, but the last couple of days it was cold and wet!!!!

This year they fly 2 weeks , then a stop, as some of the young pilots participate in the Dutch Junior Nationals at Venlo and then their last week.
Gliding is having fun together!!!! Also in less good weather.

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The 21 st FAI European Gliding Championships
Leszno Strzyzewi, Poland
30 July 2023 – 11 August 2023

76 pilots in 3 classes were ready last Sunday for their first flight .
They could practice between July 26 and 28 , presented themselves at the opening, on the 29th at 10 AM and they fly between July 30 and August 11.
The opening at 10:00 a.m. was in front of the Town Hall at the Leszno market square,on July 29.
The closing ceremony will be on August 12 at 10.30 local time.
On the first practice day the 18 m [ 37 pilots] had a 2.45 AAT, open [ 16] 2.30 and for the 20-seaters [23] as well.
I was impressed with the list of pilots,…. ALL are good/strong!!
It will be interesting to see who is going to win this EGC in EACH class, as several have that opportunity and the exact skills.

Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures shared this news to support his mates:
“Bring on the Europeans: Sebastian Kawa, Łukasz Wójcik, Lukasz Grabowski, Wolfgang Janowitsch, Bert Schmelzer, Aku Jaakola & Giancarlo Grinza all choosing to fly the Ventus 3S at the upcoming championships – bring it on .”
On practice day 2 they topped the list in 18 m. with Bert on 1, Lucasz on 2 and Sebastian on 3. From 37 pilots 29 started and 3 were out. Lot’s of penalties so good reason to make a start and find out how to ” do things better” during the comps.
The next 3 days the news was ;”The weather is challenging today and official training flights cannot take place.”

More interesting news via Kiripotib and Markus Frank;
‘The best pilots compete in cross-country flying at the European Championships in Leszno (PL). Nine trainers from Flying with the Champions are joining the competition . Thanks to the efforts of Markus Frank we got them all in one pic . We wish all participants good luck. Fly safe”

And then it finally starts…….and after the pouring rain, a good task….though they kept a B task for “when necessary”. IT WAS……3 hour tasks for all classes and it turned out a VERY DIFFICULT FIRST DAY.
18m. class;
July 30…Task 1; 3.20 AAT…..changed in 3 hour AAT….357.40 km.was the distance flown by Łukasz Wójcik in the Ventus 3 T. He used 3 hours and 11 minutes and was the daily best for 1000 points and that “counts” on such a day on which only 16 from 36 finished due to showers and difficult lift to go on track.
Sebastian Kawa was runner up and the other Lucasz [Grabowski] was 4th. All 3 fly Ventus 3T. On spot 3, great result for Dutch pilot Peter Millenaar also in Ventus 3T.
On the last leg they flew into a line of {thunder} storms and that was the end of the fun for most of them , as behind that “line” the air was DEAD. Clearly the early starters had it “easier” ,but not all could start early I heard….not a lot of lift.
July 31;NO TASK
August 1; NO TASK
August 2; TODAY…..3 hour AAT

Open class;
July 30…Task 1; 3.10 AAT….changed in 3 hour AAT….Even worse conditions in this class; ONE finisher from 15; Markus Frank [Germany] in the mighty EB 29R. He flew just over 100 km./h over 356.59 km in time 3.32, for 680 points. Runner up was Tomasz Rubaj in the JS1C and another top 3 position in this class for Dutch pilot Francois Jeremiasse also in EB 29R.
“What a first day yesterday! It was Task B eventually but the delay in issuing new Task Sheets unfortunately resulted in a reduced soaring window which in hindsight, would have probably gotten everyone home in advance of the ‘Wall of Rain’ to the east of the airfield. Only one glider from the Open Class made it back and so well done to Marcus Frank for finding the only bit of lift after the rain.” British Gliding Team
July 31;NO TASK
August 1;NO TASK
August 2; 3 hour AAT.….

2-seaters;
July 30..Task 1; 3.10 AAT….changed in 3 hour AAT.…with 1 Duo Discus and 1 Twin Shark the rest of the pilots fly either an ARCUS M or ARCUS T.
11 from 22 finished, so halve of them were out. 996 points were for UK team Pete Harvey/ Chris Dawes; 330.35 km speed 100 km./h.
Gary Coppin and Steve Jones were runner up due to a penalty [Self-launch above altitude limit.] ; 333.81 km in time 3.18 [speed 100 km./h] for 972 points!
Maybe typical UK conditions as the runners up were from the UK too.
Well done by German team Chrissie Grote and her Uli Gmelin on spot 9.
July 31; last day on the month of JULY.
The rain had not yet left and it rains from the UK to Poland and “all in between”. Briefing was postponed to 11 ,then to 12 as there was still hope for a small window in the afternoon, so gliders were waiting on the grid for the “verdict”.
No briefing & no task today CANCELLED.
August 1; DAY 3…NO FLYING IN ALL CLASSES.“We hope that weather conditions improve tomorrow! 🤞”
August 2; day 4…3 hour AAT.

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The 6th FAI Junior European Gliding Championship.
Svæveflyvecenter Arnborg, Denmark
29 July 2023 – 12 August 2023

56 young ones started last Saturday in 2 classes [20 in standard and 36 in club class] for their championship.” Young very new to a big competition “- pilots and older [under 25] more experienced pilots.
On Wednesday July 26 the official practice period [till July 28] started and showed in both classes a 243.45 km task, then a 2.30 AAT and on Friday 336.87 as task 3 in both classes.
So pretty nice weather!!!
Welcome party was at July 28 and the opening on the 29th at 11 AM.
“Umbrellas and jackets were essential as the rain poured down throughout.The pilots are looking forward to the start of the competition“British Gliding Team

The contest is between July 30 and August 11 with the farewell party on that evening and the prize giving at 10 AM on August 12.
“A well experienced team is in charge of the organisation of event with Øjvind K. Frank as Competition Director. Frank is an active competition pilot and has held many roles in the gliding community over the years, including coach and team captain for the Danish junior pilots.” FAI – World Air Sports Federation

Club class;
July 29; Task 1….NO TASK....…..still rain over the field and the contest area.
Nice pictures from Thorbjørn Brunander Sund of the practice days are shared by the Dutch team;
danishaviationphoto.com/gliders
July 30 ; Official rest day!
July 31; 2.15 AAT…..they can start with the comps .”The forecast for todays weather is for changeable conditions, perfect for our pilots! Flying in Denmark is just like flying in the UK“British Gliding Team

It was a challenging day but the French did well with a DUAL number 1 position . They flew 245 km with a speed of 106 km./h . Together with Toby from the UK, all 3 flying ASW 20, they were the only pilots flying over 100 km./h.
From 36 , 30 finished. A pity but 1 of the 3 French musketeers was out after 49 km.
August 1; NO FLYING but lot’s of FUN.
August 2; no task yet. But there might be one later,…there is HOPE!!!!

Standard class;
July 29; Task 1….NO task
July 30; Official rest day.
July 31; Task 2;2.30 AAT….2 Polish and 3 German pilots were in the top 5, so they started this competition GOOD. Tomasz and Wictor in Discus 2A and LS 8 flew 243 km with a speed of 97 km./h. Slower than the clubbies.
The 3 German boys flew 238 km with a speed of 94/95 km./h.
All 20 started AND…ALL 20 finished!!!TOP!!!

August 1: NO TASK
August 2; no task YET.

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In between the Club class Championships in France and the UK have finished.
In France they could fly 2 out of 7 days from Buno Bonnevaux ; a 3 hour AAT as task 1 and NONE of the 42 finished and as task 2 a racing task from 248 km. won by Adrien Henry in ASW 20.
He is the new National Club Class champion with 1.105 points followed by Maxence Stawski in LS 4 with 991 points and on spot 3 Clément de Péchy in LS 7 with 969 points ONE point more than Victor Mallick on spot 4.

In the UK 31 pilots tried to be the new Club class Champion. They had 4 out of 8 days at Dunstable; small tasks, though task 5 had 226 km and task 4, 277 km.
After the 4 tasks Tim Milner in his LS 3, was the new CHAMPION!! 2,520 points.
Runner up was Tom Arscott [ LS 7] with 2,319 points and on the podium as well Tim Fletcher in LS 7WL with 2,305 points.

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Truckee Tahoe Soaring Association shared the next news;
“It’s a wrap for 2023! TTSA is now closed for the season due to the runway 2/20 reconstruction project that began on July 24th. Its expected finish is late October 2023. Our last day of operation was July 22nd.
Despite our shortened season and other challenges, we remained very busy, successfully running our scenic glider rides, youth programs, tows, and other services for the glider pilot community. We also had some truly fantastic early-season soaring weather this year!“

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——54th Klippeneck competition is busy as well with 82 pilots, in 5 classes. [ 29 July 2023 – 5 August 2023]
Most probably in the rain as well.
In open, 18 m and dual- seat -class they had 2 days till now, none in club and 1 in 15m.
No task yet.
When you are interested the scores are on www.soaringspot.com and the news on https://www.klippeneck-wb.de/

—–News from WeGlide
“Gliding out of this world – Simon Schröder proved again why he is a world champion and squeezed a 578 km straight flight out of the Ventus 3 without ridge or wave. He averaged 170 km/h on this glide and only lost 709 m. This is a proper glide ratio – unbelievable.”
He flew 621,72km @ 155,00 km/h Started from Bad Wörishofen and “only ” sat 4 hours and 10 minutes in his Ventus 3.
https://www.weglide.org/flight/314864

——News in Matthew Scutter’s Gliding ” What a hardcore introduction to Rieti!”
Matthew flies with 45 other pilots the C.I.M between August 1 and 11 from Rieti.
2 Classes and on day 1 open [24 pilots] had a 422.68 km and Matthew was runner up in his JS 3/18m.
The mixed class [21] had 379.44 km km and was won by team Flewett from the UK in ARCUS M.
Love the C.I.M in Rieti!

—–News from Soaring Society of America, ;“2023 Sports Class Nat’s contest: Waller, TX home of the Soaring Club of Houston…..Practice day today and it’s hot, literally and figuratively with temps and competitors”
Finally a competition with nice hot, dry racing weather.

More on Sunday, when they fly at the JWGC and EGC , otherwise on Wednesday.
Cheers Ritz from WET ,COLD and WINDY Holland…brrrr… 18 dgr.C. Normal would be 23 this time of the year.