Thursday 11 August 2022 - Official Practice Day

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 was confirmed as in order which was great!

Today was the second official practice day, and I needed to fly in order to carry out some important engine tests (to check that the engine noise was being correctly recorded on the primary and secondary loggers).  

It was also the first day that the competition organisers had set up the grid, and as it happened, I was number 1 on the 18M Class grid.  Because of Scrutineering, this meant I had little time between gridding and launch which commenced at 12:00.  

There had been concern due to the very high temperatures that the Supermunk tugs would not be able to cope (they are restricted to 29C ISA), but the two Superminks and a Robin managed to launch the grid just fine.

I am the only GB 18M Class pilot in this World Championships, and on blue days like this, it means I do not have any team members to work with and find thermals in the blue, which made it pretty tough.  I also had a full fuel tank and almost 6 barrels of water on board, which made me pretty heavy.  I made it to the first TP rather low at 1000ft and had to dump half of the water.  I managed to climb beneath other gliders at St Neots, but one of them rudely dumped all their water on me below.  However, I am tenacious and climbed away...

The thermals gradually became stronger and higher, making the glides longer and faster and I began to pickup my speed.  I was able to take one photo on the task, and you can clearly see just how parched the countryside is currently.

I completed the task at 94Kph; the winner (French) completed it at 106Kph, so I have some way to go to catch up during the actual competition, mind you, she is the current World Champion.

This evening, there was a practice run at 'Open Mic' and there was a variety of performers to listen to.  The photo above is of Sophie from Ukraine, who is very fond of David Bowie songs!

Tomorrow is going to be another scorching hot day, so cockpit temperatures are going to be potentially dangerous.  Plenty of drinking water, sun hat and suncream is required for sure.