Women's World Gliding Championships - 2022

Sunday 14 August 2022 - WWGC 2022 - Day 1   Definitely excited 😀 The weather forecast for today was incredible - Hot - up to 30C, cloud base across England and Wales up to 10,000 feet - unheard of in the UK! The organisation set a 3:30 hour Areas Assigned Task (AAT) which is a speed task to cover as much ground in the defined areas within the 3:30 hours for the 18m Class:- NAW-Naseby West - CWA-Chipping Warden - CIN-Cinderford - BUG-Burley Gate - CHN-Chipping Norton - NOS-Northampton South - RNE-Rugby Northeast - HBX-HB Finish I was launched behind the mighty Wilga tug to 2000 feet and 'waved off'.  I immediately contacted a thermal and quickly climbed to over 5000 feet in 5 knots.  I was waiting for the Start to be opened, when Steve called me on the radio to say that my FLARM had stopped working about 15 minutes previously.  Sure enough, when I checked my main instrument, the LX9000, it had no GPS information.  A few minutes ensued before I could think throug...

 The Opening Ceremony - Saturday 13 August 2022 What a day...My goodness it was hot, hot, hot! Superbly organised by The Inner Wheel, we were bussed into Market Harborough where we were piped in by a bagpipe player and then paraded through the town centre in our respective teams and led by an Air Scout carrying our country name whilst we waved our flags.  We were then welcomed by various dignitaries and then the FAI Flag was raised in the Market Square.   We then had an hour to wander through the town and visit shops that had decorated their windows to reflect the countries taking part in WWGC; it was very grand and we felt truly welcomed. Back on the coach, we were then taken to Lutterworth, again announced, but this time by the Town Crier and collected ourselves together in the Market Square. I was picked out along with a Danish pilot and a Ukrainian Pilot and we did a live interview on Leicester Radio.  Again we had the opportunity to visit the shops that had...

Friday 12 August 2022 - (Glorious 12th!) Unofficial Practice Day It dawned another beautiful, clear and hot blue day again.   Knowing that we have the Opening Ceremony tomorrow and that we would be unable to fly, I decided that I would fly the practice task today. Today's set task was a 201Km Racing Task with a PEV start.  I placed the JS3 on the grid and prepared to launch. It was a cracking fight even though it was predominantly blue, on occasions, there were wisps of clouds which meant finding thermals relatively easy.  The task was purposely under-set to ensure that everyone made it home in time for the mandatory safety briefing that evening. I made it around the task at 96Kph, and the day 'winner' completed it at 122Kph, so I need to make sure I step up the speed somewhat during the competition proper! There was a briefing during Friday evening covering most of the points we had already been informed about, but also covering safety aspects.   Mandy, th...

Thursday 11 August Yesterday was a very hot day with relatively low level thermals in the blue, and not many took the opportunity to fly on the first official training day.  Although I spent time getting the glider ready, I also elected not to fly. Today's forecast was a little better with thermals predicted to be at around 5000ft.  A racing task of 211.4Km was declared for the 18M Class - HB Start East - St Neots - Swalcliffe - Northampton South - Rugby Northeast - HB Finish Ring. I attended briefing and programmed the Oudie and then had to take the glider for Scrutineering which covers multiple checks on the glider as well as documentation. Here the glider is being weighed to ensure that the glider fully ballasted does not exceed the specified reference mass.  It also had the wingspan checked,  instruments inspected and cockpit contents verified.  I too was weighed along with clothing and belongings that I would normally take on every flight.  Everything ...

 WWGC 2022 - Tuesday 9 August 2022 Today was a well-earned rest day for me today after all!  I spent it loading new files into the instruments in the glider and trying to sort out a hardware problem with the electronic variometer which turns out to be a bug in the software.  Even though I had an expert attempting to fix the problem, it was unsolvable. I had been asked to do a presentation to a group of locals to Husbands Bosworth Village Hall in the afternoon, so Steve and I just about had enough to treat ourselves to lunch in Market Harborough, dash back to the airfield so I could get changed into my Squad uniform and then drive to the village hall. There was a gathering of children and adults all eager to listen to Rob Barsby speak about Aerosparks, to have a go in the Husbands Bosworth glider simulator and try out some STEM activities.  Rob gave his pitch along with some cool video footage of Aerosparks' displays, which was then followed by Liz Sparrow, Director o...