Post 1.441 on Wednesday August 16 2023

Summer is nearly over and after a great start and BAD “middle” ,we have a good end on this 2023 summer. Maybe not fantastic soaring weather, but dry sunny and warm again, up to 30 dgr C this weekend.
I did a lot of writing about all important comps .
I missed however a picture on the 3 young ones from the Czech Rep who won the Standard class in Denmark at the JEGC. I found one and here you are ……3 happy young pilots!!!
Hopefully I “find” the club class as well.

Jens Trabolt   wrote in his Nordic Gliding Magazine about the JEGC and here is the link; https://nordicgliding-com.translate.goog/junior-em…/…

So now it’s back to the “normal” procedures though this upcoming weekend I will be as always at the KEIHEUVEL, for their competition.
First to LASHAM!!!

—–In between the LASHAM REGIONALS [5 August 2023 – 13 August 2023] are over and who not participated in the EGC , was flying there in a “red” or “bleu” class.
In “red” 31 pilots flew and in “blue” 16 , so another busy competition at that beautiful BIG field.
“RED” flew 6 out of 9 days with tasks from 248 km, 3.30 AAT, 353 km, 123,86 km and 162 and 105 km.
Quite a few “names” I met at comps, but did not see during the last years, as Dave Watt, IanMacarthur, and Leigh Wells who flew HC and is Lizzy’s brother.[in Amsterdam last weekend]
Steve Pozerskis in ASG 29, won this class with 4,079 points.

“Blue” flew 1 day less and started with a 192.75 km task flown by only 2 pilots, George Downing in ASW 20 and Tim Milner in his LS 3; 75 km./h ,so a tough day. Then a task from 307 km, 258.91 km, 105.50 [with only Tim as finisher] 92,88 km [only Oliver Barter [LS8] as finisher.]
Final scores;
Red; Blue;
1. Steve Pozerskis in ASG29e with 4,079 points. 1. Tim Milner in LS 3 with 3,126 points
2. Ken Barker in JS1C with 4.004 p 2. Jordan Johnson in ASW 20 with 2,922 p.
3. Ian Macarthur in JS 1b with 3,699 p. 3. George Downing in ASW 20 with 2,782 p.

The LASHAM org. finished with :
“We will see you next year for the UK 18 and 20m National Championships, 25th May-4th June 2024.“

——-USA 18m NATIONALS and UVALDE GLIDE [14 August 2023 – 25 August 2023] with 3 classes and 41 competitors.
Bruce is there and Adam and both are good bloggers ,so I refer to them in my blogs!
Adam wrote already after his arrival with Pasi from Finland.
“Pasi & I have arrived into Uvalde, but not without seeing the blue & reds just 40 miles out of town!
We enjoyed a nice journey, always amazed at how quickly the countryside or views changed, always greeted with nice locals.
Time for a shower & our first visit to a Texan steakhouse.” Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
So did Bruce;
“After six years away, here I am back in Uvalde, Texas… and it’s still just as hot as it always was! This is the official pre-worlds for 18m, Open and 20m two-seat classes for next year, as well as the US 18m nationals to select their own team for the worlds. Adam Woolley and his Finnish mate Pasi are here too, but there are very few other internationals turning up which is a bit of a shame.
As with many previous visits, I am borrowing a glider from my friend Jim Staniforth, this time it is his ASH31Mi, which is in great shape. (Very) early this morning I crawled out to the airfield to get it rigged, before the sun got too high. I put on the 21m wings today, and might fly with the 18m tips tomorrow. Then I’ll decide which span I prefer.” much more in Taylor’s Gliding Page

The first practice day was ” Blue” :
“First official practice day today, and it was not a bad one at all. The forecast was for mostly blue conditions as per yesterday, but except for a short distance in our northern leg there were some nice Texan cus. Especially down to the south it was very nice with some buoyant glides and stronger climbs. We had a 2.5 hour Assigned Area Task which was short for the weather we got, but basically it was just a day for pilots and organisers to go through the motions to make sure everything is working.” for more Taylor’s Gliding Page
and
“This is what they consider a blue Uvalde day, absolutely awesome, hope we get many more & naturally, so glad I came!” for more Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures

More next Wednesday, the last practice day is over and you can read the news on both blogs.
Greetings via both from Eric “Herbie” Moser, that was nice!.

———The CCR [Coppa Citta di Rieti ] flown between 13 August 2023 – 22 August 2023, counts 17 pilots in the mixed class and 19 in open, from Italy, Spain, The UK, Austria ,Germany and Switzerland. Mostly very experienced mountain pilots.
Task 1 in the mixed class was a 2.45 AAT won by Federico Montanini in a Ventus 2ax; 357.57 km., speed 132.04 km./h.
17 Started and 3 were out.
Task 2 a 2.40 AAT was yesterday and won by team Alberto Sironi/ Venturini in the ARCUS T; 364.11 km ,speed 136.43 km./h.
17 started and 16 finished.

Task 1 in open was a 2.50 AAT, won by Jon Gatfield from the UK; 407.92 km ., speed 140 73 km./h.
19 started and 1 was out. Jon is a very open , thoughtful , very experienced and concerned glider pilot, so I share his news to alert pilots when they fly the glider, just to warn you;
“BEWARE: twice now I have had a potentially serious situation with the air brakes. If opened at high speed (100kts or more) they can jerk out and cause one of the 4 paddles to overlap another. You then cannot close the brakes.
I’ve got away with it twice now but the last incident was a real heart stopper on finals to Rieti. 55kts over the fence – just. The previous at Sisteron required an “S” turn approach.
Be aware too that because the brakes are out the wheel brake will be on and likely cause the nose to scrape the ground. Mine needs repainting for sure.
I have alerted the UK agent who has told Schleicher but I haven’t seen an AD yet and one is definitely needed.
In the meantime- be aware and take care!“
Task 2; 396.15 km…..good day for Austrian pilot Christian Hynek in the EB 29DR; 148.60 km/h. Not bad as the runner up had 139.07 km./h. Convergence lines over the Apennines created great speed.
19 started and 3 were out

More next week.

—–For my Dutch readers;

And to finish this news I read and I can only agree with it from
Michael Price
“Can’t believe how good a multi-tasker Matthew Scutter is!  Helping us all have more fun with his Skysight, great competition pilot as he showed at Rieti, in the middle of the night when the other competitors are fast asleep he’s supporting the Perlan team conquer the Polar Vortex, I send him an insignificant Skysight email during all of this and he answers anyway, what an amazing gift to our sport!!  Hopefully he will take a nap on his way home from Italy  Well done Matthew!!”

CU next week
Cheers Ritz