8.30 AM; Monday December 30.
An early morning [6.30] as several pilots and or crews left early to work on the glider, when it is not yet hot.
It’s still practice here , but French pilot Aude flew 409 km. already in her Discus.
The good weather and finally no smoke was in the South.[NSW and Victoria]
Benalla and Tocumwal both had 1000 km. flights yesterday ;Tobias in his 15 m. Ventus 2ax and Lumpy in his JS 3 [925 triangle!!]
And what about Grant in his St Jantar; a 750 FAI triangle [ stretched to 806].
New National champion in 15 m. class Bernie flew in his PIK 20 a distance of 819 km.
His comment ;” Great day…..760km @ 132km/h……Yeehaaa”
Both flights from Tocumwal, where they struggled a bit during the Nationals 2 weeks ago , due to smoke and wind. Such a pity the weather is at it’s best now.
From Sunraysia David flew 903 in an LS 3.
Great flights. Look at them on the OLC.

We had a lovely meal yesterday evening in the sports center. What a “posh ” place that is …Huge too.
Katrin [Senne], the current WWGC champion in 18 m. , arrived as well, with Brad and his JS3.
The apple crumble was to die for ,as was the custard pudding, not to forget the chicken curry, mild but very tasty. Compliments!!!!

Off to briefing now to see what the girls have to do.

9.30 AM;
Another hot day in Keepit, from now on I leave “the Lake”.
It was the last briefing in the small office, as from tomorrow onward briefings will be in the sports center about 7 km. driving from the airport over a small road. At 9.30.
The office will now be the “operational heart” of this WWGC.

The weather with Dave; about the same as yesterday,hot with an northerly influence ,blue with later in the day’s some clouds in the SW and N.
Lift about 5.5 kts. up to 10.000 ft and later up to 11/or 12.000 depending on the influence of the smoke from some fires in the flying area.
Not much wind!

The tasks with Bruce; 2 tasks have been set on this last unofficial practice day.
One from 454 km. for 18 m,; a polygon with 4 points.Longest leg 173 km.
The other 302 km.for st./club class.; a polygon with 4 points. the longest leg is 96 km.
Tasks have been set in the better weather and stay away from smoke.
With fires in the area close by remember; 3000 ft AGL and 5 nm .
Gridding will be “who comes first, is on row 1” and the first should be lining up at Terminal 1, the shade-roof at 32 [ Showed you pictures yesterday. ] and the first launch is expected at 12 PM.

Borgelt Instruments has worked here at the vario meters of a few gliders. Mike explained why instruments suffer from the heat and might even overheat.
Some of the modern gliders have no opening at all in the cockpit. With the heat it is like a SOLAR OVEN, which is bad !!!!
He advised to “make a hole” in the top of the instrument panel, cover it with insect screen ,….so air can get through… and place some computer fans at the bottom under the instruments.

Yesterday Diana, who represents Luxembourg , flew around 310 km. and after arriving back here, she started the jet-engine of her new JS 3 at 300 m. to race with 200 km./h queer over the field.
It was only the 2d time she tried the “jet”. She was smiles from ear to ear, when I met her later, ” it felt just GREAT” she said .

Off to the field for the launches,

2 PM;
Great looking skies, so lot’s of gliders in a queue to start.
Adam flew as coach in the back of the Duo Discus and Ricardo decided to fly today too.

The competition doggy is adopted my many pilots. It goes from lap to lap. A cute little Mascot.

AND,….strong thermals turning over gliders, from one wing to the other, so MUST be a good day.

And more…strong day!!!

3.30 PM;
Still some gliders are being launched NOW.
There is a lot of talking about the fires and their influence on the weather. We know for sure that it HAS an influence.
Here is the more technical info from the Bureau of Meteorology.
I share this news which I got from Anni today;

http://media.bom.gov.au/social/blog/1618/when-bushfires-make-their-own-weather/

Water is a problem too, also here. as said they bought water here and use rain water as well.

In between the ladies, who started are happily flying, their crews drop in hot and bothered in search for drinks!!!
They are, looking at the tracking , at 8000 ft and some at 11.000 with lift up to 2/3 m. So nice cool up high there.
One of the ladies mentioned earlier, a not working oxygen bottle and wondered if she should come back.

5 PM;
Gliders are landing now. 2 Just arrived, but I got only one on my pictures.

6 PM;
The Team captains meeting starts in 5 minutes!
Scruteneering is over. Nearly ALL was OK.
Gliders are landing, some are still half an hour out.
One landed today wheels up,..not good ,but better now than during the comps.
The new “bar” along the club house is busy .
No worries for “mum” kangaroo, eating a bit of green grass with her baby in front of it.

Off to dinner soon.
CU tomorrow.Interesting day as the official training starts.