Post 1.428 on June 21 2023.

The first thing when I read my mails was the JS News Flash from Jonker Sailplanes,
NO need for me to do time- consuming- research about the German Nationals, when they have written down ,what I wanted to say too. So here you are, I share it, whenever you have nor read it yet.

JONKER SAILPLANES MARKETING.

The German Nationals in Open, 18m, and Double Seater class recently concluded, providing pilots with exceptional weather conditions over the past two weeks. Out of 13 possible days in Bayreuth, there were 11 competition days, thanks to the continuous influence of a high-pressure system over the north of Germany. This system brought in a strong and fresh airmass from the northeast, creating excellent thermal conditions for the pilots.
In the 18m class, 15 out of 39 pilots opted for JS gliders. The reigning standard class world champion, Simon Schröder, showcased his dominance once again by securing a victory in this class. Schröder won with a commanding lead of 400 points, flying a Ventus 3TS. Stefan Langer (ASG 29) finished in second place, followed by Matthias Sturm and Katrin Senne (both flying JS3 JET gliders) in third and fourth place, respectively.

In the open class, Michael Sommer emerged as the winner once more, with Felipe Levin and Oliver Binder (both his teammates) securing second and third place, respectively. Impressively, the top six positions in the open class were all taken by EB29R gliders, indicating that this particular model is considered state-of-the-art. Among the 22 participants, there were 10 EB29Rs and 4 JS gliders.

The Double Seater class was dominated by the Theisinger family, with Laurenz flying alongside his father Georg in an ASG 32. They clinched victory with a comfortable lead of 24 points. Martin Theisinger, Laurenz’s uncle, finished in second place, while Andreas Hillebrand (flying an Arcus M) secured third place.

The organizing team of the event in Bayreuth received high praise for their remarkable job, and the facilities in Bayreuth were commended for their quality. As a result, it is believed that Bayreuth has the potential to host even larger competitions in the future.”

So far the Jonker news flash,
As said before , I was already in Bayreuth at the WGC in 1999 and that was perfectly organized as well. Holger Karow then won in open class in a Nimbus 4, Giorgio Galetto won in 15 m. in Ventus 2 and in standard it was Jean Marc Caillard in Discus 2A.
Have good memories on Bayreuth.

Also Schempp-Hirth was happy;
“Simon Schröder is German Champion in 18m Class 2023.
We are very happy that our sales agent placed first in Bayreuth in the 18m Class at the German Nationals with our Ventus-3 !
He flew his way past all competitors and managed to save his place right from the first days. Due to his consequent flying he brought the title home.
We are very proud of him and welcomed him back warmly to our company.”

After the comps there was still soaring-spirit in Michael [Sommer] ; last Sunday he flew in the EB 29R a distance from 1.324.75 km from Oberhinkofen nearly flying to Vienna and back, with good wave conditions and another 10 hours and 17 minutes in his log book.

What happened more?
GREAT WEATHER!!!No……. GLORIOUS WEATHER! Stunning conditions at places!!!
Every already flown competition had many days and long distances and happy faces;
—–Arne Martin Güettler was the NORWEGIAN CHAMPION in open class where 12 pilots plus 1 HC pilot had 7 days out of 7. Mostly around 300 km tasks were set. 3.839 points for him. He flew a DG 500
Martin Bjørnebekk was the club class NATIONAL CHAMPION. He flew a MOSQUITO.4.906 points for him. He won 3 tasks.

—–The OPEN MILITARY CHAMPIONSHIP was flown in THE NETHERLANDS from Malden. 2 Classes, club with 9 pilots and 15 in the combi class. There is a mix from military pilots and “just normal” pilots. You don’t have to be in the military service to participate.
The Royal Airforce even brought an ASK 21 to Malden. Pilots from the 300 squadron flew around with who ever wanted a “joy-flight”.
Great effort!
After 5 out of 5 days with in the combi – class tasks up to 481 km and in club up to 400 km. this was a super-event.
Winner in club was ; Jeroen van Dijk in LS 3 WL with 4.218 points. Jeroen was OUT on day 1 after 163 km. , but won all the other days.
Winner in combi; father and son Ben and Frank Hiemstra in the DG 1000S/20m. with 4.738 points.
They flew 27 hours , 2143 km and the best height was over Germany;2500 m!!!!
So exellent conditions.

—–The RAYSKALA MASTERS in Finland had superb weather as well. Included were the Finish Nationals in open and racing class.
8 days out of 8 of fine soaring

Winner in club class ; Sakari Pyörre in LS 7 with 7,151 points.
Winner in racing class ; Kristian Roine in LS 8st with 7,297 points.
Winner in open class; Juha Sorri in ARCUS M with 6,955 points.
Interesting to see that the number 1 flew an ARCUS M the number 2, Pasi Pulkkinen an EB29D [6781 p] and the number 3 Aku Jaakkola, a Ventus 3.[6.771, very close!!!]
When I got to know Aku he was very young , very eager and a very keen and good pilot. Now married and with children , he is still good!

Finnish gliding nationals were flown at the same time in the Open and Racing classes. Finnish national rules were applied. Handicaps were used in all classes. Same names in both classes, different final scores AND….2 new National Champions 2023.
Pasi called it ” One of the most skillfull contest ever in Finnish nationals.”
Results;
Open; Racing:
1. Juha Sorri with 6.821 p. 1. Krististian Roine with 7,349 p.
2. Pasi Pulkkinen with 6.654 p. 2. Antti Koskiniemi with 7,082 p.[Discus 2B]
3. Aku Jaakkola with 6.641 p. 3. Nuutti Luukkonen with 7,000 p. [LS8 a]

On the last day there finish was over the LAKE and when I was there, I loved it! VERY SPECTECULAR!!!!!
“legendary finish line 12 in use” [Bit like in Lake Keepit]
They still love it. Katja who I got to know at Rayskala during the Europeans,[2005?] took these great pictures.
Many others , still flying this competition, I got to know then too.

——-The 13th 15 m class NATIONALS in POLAND [ 9 June 2023 – 17 June ] flown from Grudziadz Lisie had not the glorious weather the pilots more West in Europe had.
4 Tasks out of 8 .
Łukasz Grabowski won 2 days ,[ 440 km and 2 hour AAT] so did Jacek Flis.[2.30 AAT and 3 hour AAT] .
In the end Jacek won in his LS 3 with 3.371 points . Runner up Lucasz in the DIANA 2 , had 3.293 p.
Handicap LS3 is 912.925 and from the DIANA 2 863.853

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Some comps have just started and are still in progress like in Italy;
CLUB CLASS and UNICA in Ferrara between 16 June 2023 – 25 June;

Unica; 23 pilots among them Ricky [Brigliadori] , Giorgio [Galetto] and Davide [Schiavotto]
Task 1; 268.39 km….. good day for 5 pilots flying 119 km./h. 4 Flew a JS 3 and 1 a ASH 31.21 m. All 5 started at 14.25 and finished at 16.40.
But one was the best; Davide with 119.98 km./h…… Ricky was runner up; 119.31 km./h.
Task 2; 226.44 km……23 started 22 finished. Best was  Roberto Pinato in JS 3 with 105.60 km./h. Davide and Ricky were on spot 8 and 9 and Giorgio on spot 5.
Task 3; 235.02 km..…2d win for Davide, who grew out from an eager junior flying the JWGC in Husbos ….with as his coach/TC Leonardo [Brigliadori] to an Italian top pilot.
23 started and 19 finished, among them Ricky and Giorgio on spot 3;equal daily points 646.
After 3 tasks and hopefully 3 more to come from Friday onward, there are 5 pilots between 1.921 and 1.990 points. [Roberto, Lucio, Davide ,Alberto and Ricky.]

Club class;
20 pilots among them Luca [Urbani], Luca [ Monti], and 3 Fergnani’s; Elena, Michelle and brother Nicola.
Task 1; 193.40 km.…The Luca’s straight did well. Urbani won [105.17 km./h] in Discus 2A and Monti in LAK 19 with 102.67 km./h.
Task 2; 231.44 km…..Lapo Busi won the day in ASW 20 a;99.45 km./h. Elena [ Discus] was runner up and Nicola [Discus] 4th , Micelle the youngest was 6th. [Discus 2a]
Task 3; 195.01 km….91.80 km./h for Lapo…. again as daily winner.
20 started and 18 finished. Former WWGC champion in Club class [Lake Keepit in 2020 in Australia] Elena was 13th.
Clearly Lapo leads the overall scores after 3 days; 1.840 points. 3 days hopefully to go, but there are more {thunder}-storms around. Mmmmm….

The competitions in Ferrara continue on Friday June 23 2023 for another 3 days.

—–Busy busy soaring week in great summer conditions look at how busy it is on this picture shared by Sebastian. Have a look also at the OLC and WeGlide for a huge amount of 1000 km-plus- flights.
https://www.onlinecontest.org
https://weglide.org

Just read this message from WeGlide:
“Yesterday, Gordon Boettger texted us saying: “I’m going to launch at midnight tonight and plan for a 2500 km plus flight. NVG time baby!”. Now, after a flight of 17,5 hours, Gordon and Bruce have gone further than anyone ever did before them in a glider. The WeGlide team would like to congratulate both pilots with this amazing achievement of 3058km and for pushing the boundaries of gliding.”
They started at Minden, in an ARCUS J and the speed was 177 km./h!!!
https://www.weglide.org/flight/291438

We are super excited to hear his story and share it with you!

Also on https://www.onlinecontest.org/…/gliding/flightinfo.html…

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—–Not long and the WWGC starts in Garray in Spain. Start is on July 1 2023.
Training update from Team UK:
“Four weeks ago, a ground handling incident meant that Carol would not be able to fly her LS7 in WWGC2023. However, she is back in the competition because Tim Dews of Airbourne Composites kindly offered the loan of his ASW 20 L. This kind of gesture is a great example of the supportive nature of this sport.”
That’s gliding too!!!!!Great effort from Tim!
https://wwgc2023.org/

CU next week.
Hospital visit was OK!!!!
Holiday as it should be, with 5 nearly 80 years old….haha. Though 4, 3 and 2 years to go for the big 8-0.
After 38 days with NO rain, we had some strong thunderstorms over night, mostly in the coastal areas.
Every day around 30 dgr.C, feels “good” in Australia, but less good in The Netherlands with no airco. Half June we had already more sun hours than ever before in June.
LONGEST DAY HERE!!!!! Shortest for my friends down under.
AND,.in Scandinavia around this time …..MID SUMMER NIGHT. I attended a few , very special atmosphere.
Cheers Ritz