Alphen aan den Rijn    Friday August 6 2010         ritzdeluy@hotmail.com

I’ll take you through today on an hourly base or when “things”are happening!

9.00; On TV I noticed this morning at the news, that the weathermap for the Mid of Europe did not look too good. But….In Szeged they have set tasks on days we would not bring our gliders out. So everything is still possible! Quite an interesting day yesterday!As long as pilots come back the task setter is correct. The German pilots did very well in open class ,ALL of  their 3 pilots on top.Michael is ready and will be assisted by his mates to win his 3d title. In a discussion with him, a while ago,  he only smiled when I told him he has a possibility to be better then the till now best ever pilot Ingo Renner. Ingo won 4 times a world title and should have won in S.A but lost a day as both his loggers failed. When Michael wins he only needs one more title to be AS GOOD!!! Good on him and he is still young enough to get that 5th one as well.I keep an eye on him. Good luck today, Michael!!!
In 18 m. class the 2d pilot from Poland Nieradka is on top now  and Uys[SA]  is in the middle.” Guess “they all want to win , so when they fly today tactics will be “hot”. Staryszak , who “dropped “to 3, wants his first spot back so between the 2 Polish pilots might be some stress and Attie on spot 5,  will help his brother Uys to get on spot 1. The “fight is on “, between the ASG 29 and the JS1. Great effort from Ricardo and Yves yesterday to make it home!! They “climbed” on the overall scores list.
The 15 m. boys  had another though day yesterday with only 12 pilots flying home from 49. Leigh for sure want to fly but the Italian friends Ghiorzo and Thomas, are ready to fly for what they are worth, as well. They practised so long together to achieve what they are about to do. Though 1 and 2 would have been better in overall, but also that can still happen. The Diana’s are flying well in this class.Only 3 Diana’s performing and one is at spot 1, the others on 3 and on spot 5. Good on them, it is a great looking glider, but I always worry a bit when they start and land.
So now ONLY the weather has to be good enough to make it a fair day and then tonight we KNOW, who are the winners of this 31st  FAI WGC 2010.
It seems pretty windy and they can see upcoming cirrus…….. Tasks are set by the organization which is normal on the last day, you try as long till it is imopossible and then you can only “surrender” to the weather gods. The German meteo predicts heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon [coldfront] , with hail and “thinks” that flying today “will be not likely”. Gridding is on and the last briefing is at 10.am. In Budapest it is raining already!!!
Back later;

10.30;the tasks have been delivered and on the back the meteo info is written WITH WARNINGS!!
SUPERCELLS AND SQUALL LINE ARE POSSIBLE WITH STORMY GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL 2cm .
 Now the “game” is starting; …waiting…waiting… hoping on a yes or a no for the day…and waiting. By the way here are the tasks, to make it easy for you:
15 m. class a racing task of  254.9 km
18 m. class a racing task of 258 km.
open class a racing task of 315 km.

12.00; The day is cancelled. At least they tried!!! Pilots and crew were “running”to bring their gliders to the trailers or maybe today the other way around as the severe thunderstorms were already close by.
At 1 the 3 new world champions will be in a car parade each in a car with their National flag and of course a glass of bubbles and All cars available should be following! Nice idea!
So the World champions are ; Open class Michael Sommer his 3d title. Well done Michael ! Great 2d place for Steve Jones from the UK and a fantastic results for my Belgium friends Arnaud and Pierre de Broqueville with their 3d place.Compliments!!!!
In 18 m class the 2 Polish pilots did well with Uys in the middle. Zbigniew Nieradka, difficult name, is the new world champion.
In 15 m. class it was one day too many for Leigh to add a new world title to his list. But great team flying from Stefano Ghiorzo who is the new World champion and Thomas for being 3d. A great 2d place still for young Leigh Wells.
Out of 13 days the 15 m. boys flew 7. The 18 m as well and the open class 8.
More news and an evaluation on thje comps on Sunday. Cheers Ritz