Alphen aan den Rijn Sunday afternoon August 27 ritzdeluy@hotmail.com
Back home again! We , Kees van Schaick and I, departed with heavy rain and arrived back with it. In between it was OK, with less heavy rain and today no rain till Holland. Even at Mönscheide it was raining with our arrival, but later in the evening it was dry and the cold was chased by a warm bon-fire and nice champagne. It was Doris Wiesenthal’s party. She turned 50 in March and invited some of her [inter]national friends and of course her family including Ute and Hans, Karin and Marcus . I was pleasantly surprised to catch up on this new airport I had never been before, with Australian mates Tim and Laurel, also good friends from the Wiesenthals, after they both visited Räyskälä and mutual friend Kari. From Tim , who visited Lasham as well, I heard that the weather during the Nationals was not very good, so due to out landings he missed out in meeting more friends. All these friendships originate from the good old times in Tocumwal at Sportavia.
As it was a private party I did not make pictures there.
While we were sitting in the rain, the UK had a bit of a better day of soaring at Lasham, on day 3 last Wednesday;444 km. sun combined with showers. Steve Jones got the very first 1000 points in this competition, for his day-win and only 5 pilots finished and stayed out of trouble with those showers; Andy in the JS1 b, Robin in the EB , Pete in the Nimbus 4T and David Allison, in the Nimbus 4D.
On Thursday they could fly again; 209 km. !!! We had rain here ..again, but to be honest some sunny intervals as well! This time it was Pete who won and an extra 719 went into his pocket. BAD day , unfortunately for Steve, as he was one of the 22 “out-landers” . At least they have a valid national competition to find out who can go to Uvalde.
Overall after 4 days, Pete tops the list with Steve behind him and Andy.
Friday was scrubbed and Saturday Steve was ” 2 points better” then Pete. Today is their last day….will they fly??? No change in the overall scores.
In 15 m. class at Husbos, also 4 days of flying including Thursday. Day 3 had 4 ASG 29 in the top and a nice speed of 115 km./h over 331 km. for winner Chris Curtis. Only 2 out-landings.
Day 4 showed that Chris was the best AGAIN. Well done with a pretty strong field of pilots. After 4 days good old Dave Watt is number 1 overall and Leigh , former WGC champion at Eskilstuna is on a 2d place. Chris was on spot 7; he had a 22 d. and 12th place earlier.
They scrubbed 2 days and today is their last day with a set task of 204 km.The margin between the first 3 is only just under 100 points , so WHEN they can fly eveything is still possible!
Some of the young under 25 pilots from Germany continue their soaring season now in Puimoisson in France with pretty long flights.
Fuentemilanos still has nice soaring conditions and some of our former guests , as Pepe, Michael and Hans enjoy those circumstances.
Rieti was good as well with flights up to 874 km in ASH 31/21m.. The bad weather was mainly in the middle from Europe , were a low persisted in making our lives miserable.
Last Friday it was according to one of the pilots flying there, “the best ridge soaring day in the Eastern Alps. ”
In the duo discus they flew 1.149 km. from Wiener Neustadt and 1068 km. in an ASW 20. Hammer Wetter in the Alps and Heinz Hammerle flew 1.292 km. in his LS 8 [ speed 120km./h] , while Werner Amann must have surprised himself by flying 1.555 km. with a speed of 128 km./h. in his Ventus 2C18m. Both flew from the Austrian airfield of Hohenems. What a great flow of super weather in that whole area there including Unterwössen [Germany]and Serres La Batie [France] .
The Vergulde Venturi only allowed for some local soaring yesterday and they hope for a window today.
Seabreeze at Deelen Airport cancelled yesterday as well, and also hope for a window today!!!
Better unpack now! Great weekend, Ritz