Alphen aan den Rijn July 7 2010 ritzdeluy@hotmail.com
The first day of the WGC was a difficult one with task B set and a dangerous situation for 2 gliders as the pilots did not see each other , with as a result a mid air collision. Hope from now on pilots will take care of each other for themselves and our beautiful sport and I am extremely happy that both pilots are alive and kicking!!!! Here is the official statement about the collision ;
”At the first competition day we had a mid-air collision between GX and 8K. The collision happened at an altitude of 2200 m approximately 10 km South West from Ruzomberok town. Only GX had a proximity warning device. Both gliders were damaged. 8K had his tail and bottom damaged but could fly back to the Prievidza airport. GX was more severely damaged losing part of the right wing and had his canopy broken but could land on the Ruzomberok airfield. Luckily the pilots were not injured.
The organizers heard both pilots and analyzed the igc flight records of their gliders. They came to the conclusion that GX was circling to the right in a thermal when 8K was entering the same thermal. For unknown reason the two pilots didn´t see each other. 8K entered the thermal in a normal way considering other gliders he saw in the same thermal but he didn´t see GX. When he started to turn right, he suddenly saw GX coming from behind and below. He pulled up but couldn´t avoid the collision.
According to the organizers opinion, although unintentionally, the pilot of 8K created an extremely dangerous situation by cutting the circle flown by GX. Considering that it is the full responsibility of the pilot entering a thermal to make sure that he does not interfere with a glider already circling in this thermal, the director of the competition decided to disqualify the pilot of 8K for the day and to exclude him temporarily from the competition for the next two flying days.
He also allowed the pilot of GX to replace his glider which cannot be repaired for this competition.
At the briefing the competition director announced his decision and showed the traces. He also urged all pilots to look out all the time and fly safely. ”
Jozef Snirc –
Competition Director Prievidza July 6th 2010
I cannot agree more!!!!!And…please learn from it!!!
As life goes on ..luckily also for both pilots, we look at a great result that first day for Holland with European runner up and still junior ,Tim Kuijpers as number 1 in club class, though I was a bit shocked not to see G Dale under the first 5. As I found out he had troubles in the beginning, after missing a good thermal and he was not able to go back as the weather at the start-point was even worse at that stage , so this slowed him down.
Former junior JWGC winner Mario Kiessling won for Germany and the French had their first win in the PW 5 class with Laurent Couture. They say a ”good beginning is half the work” , so let’s see if this is true.
On day 2 the tracking system was working and it is really nice to follow the 14 pilots who have the system in their glider, with a 20 minute delay. If they like it as much as we do, I doubt it! Unfortunately the system still had interuptions. A short AAT only with several out landings, some with damage and some people had to work all night to get the glider ready.
I was very pleased to see that Dane {NZ} won the day in standard class , even coming back 4 minutes TOO early.
Day 3 was cancelled due to rain, but that rain did not come straight away, they got colder air instead which most of the people over there had no problem with after the hot days. For at-least 2 gliders a little bit extra repair/drying- time was warmly welcomed.
Today they start for the first time from o4 after using 22 before! The weather looks this early not too promising , it is only 14 dgr with 7 to 8/8 of clouds, but they expect a flying day. Look for news at your countries site or at the official site; www.wgc2010.sk
I guessed that Sunday would be a better day for the pilots here in Holland , you remember and I was right. On Monday I noticed we even ”topped” the OLC list with spot 1-2 and 4. Well done guy’s!!!!
A total of 60 happy Dutch pilots with flights between 78 km and 686 km. Though…one of the girls was less happy, she was allowed a first flight in the discus and felt sick all the way [150 km.]!!! Some called it ”more promising then it was in reality”, but who cares when you can fly!!!
The pilots in France and Spain had a nice day as well, so had the Eastern countries, as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Czech Rep. , but our German neighbours got our ”sh..-weather” from the day before.
Soccer was “hot” in Holland yesterday! The semi finals in Capetown between Holland and Uruguay…..and we…….WON!!
But I did not look. Like thousands in the world I have such a weird fobie; when I would look, they would lose, so I was typing away on my laptop only hearing the vuvuzela’ s from the neighbours loud when “we”made a goal and…..I heard that 3 times and I joined in after the match.
Even CNN send a TV team to Holland to look how we “celebrate with our boys” all dressed in orange and they expect over 12 million just have awesome and peaceful [except for one place in The Hague] great fun.
Tonigh ”we” know who will play against ”us” in the final on Sunday. In any case it is a European final match with modern soccer. I think Holland goes mad when ”we” win. We NEVER did but reached the final in 1972 and 1978.
On top of that Holland had a great soaring weather yesterday as well, Jeroen Kole made a great flight again from Terlet ;717 km. in a discus BT. Wow this weather is just unique!!!!
Jaap van Steinfoorn flew from Teuge in the ASH 25 M 819 km. For a moment Jeroen topped the OLC list , but the weather in the USA and in Canada is super as well so in the end he was the 2d European on place 18 with Wilfried Grosskinsky in the Nimbus 4 M with another 1077 km on spot 5 and Jaap at 20.
This nice weather continues, though Spain and Portugal don’t call it nice anymore as up to 40 dgr. is a bit much. Also New York suffers from extreme high temperatures.
18 Women started yesterday in Issoudun with the French National Women Championships including , but hors concours , Gill Spreckly from the UK and Italian pilot Margherita Aquaderni. The first day had a task of 305 km with 5 outlandings. I guess some of these ladies will be in Arboga for the WWGC in Sweden in 2011.
Same place other competition ; the International Issoudun 2010, a very pleasant competition with lots of pilots from Germany, Belgium, Italy and Holland flown between July 3 and July 13. Some of the International guests go their already for ”ages”!!
My head is still full of soccer, could write you pages about it, but I won’t! The Tour de France , normally also one of my favourites , misses out a bit , but after Sunday this will change. I ”hate” by the way the many cyclists falling REALLY hard!!!
CU on Sunday.
cheers Ritz