Thursday 3.12.2015 – Interactive safety minute

Would this be that day when I tell that days are alike…? Wake up after seven, shower etc., driving together with Adam to the airfield at 8, some updates to facebook and checking received emails from Finland where day is just ending, breakfast, working, briefing, working, launches, help-yourself lunch from the fridge (there’s food for volunteers), editing the pictures which I took at launches, waiting for the finishes, trying to find a place where to take photos of the landings if there is time (if not, it means that I am stuck with my computer), glass of wine, dinner at the clubhouse or at the town, shower, tv, writing my “blog” and bed.

It was almost like that, Pete took me to the airfield to take photos of the landings, but it was difficult to find a good spot. It was a surprise that the sun was so hot – burning hot – after six in the evening. As I was standing in a middle of dust and dead looking cut crop field, I surely felt that if the climate change continues, there will be areas on Earth which aren’t suitable for living.

Interactive safety minute in the briefing and about the flying today

There was a great interactive safety minute this morning at the briefing. It was about flying in thermal together with other gliders and joining in thermal as well. First Eric (AUS) was invited front of the briefing and he was told to spread his wings and fly in thermal. He spread his hands as wide as he could and started “flying” in thermal. Everybody was laughing as it seemed to become a great show. Adam invited more pilots there one by one and at least Alex (NZL), Sam (GBR) and Ger (NLD) were there, I don’t remember who else were there, but there were quite many “planes”. As more “planes” came there, they noticed that they have to spread out to fit in thermal and move out a bit where the lift isn’t that good. It was a great laugh!

Suddenly Martti’s name was called (Finnish team captain) as Adam said “we need one Open class pilot here, Martti?” He was surprised, but he spread his wings and joined in the thermal. First they we’re flying as supposed, but soon Martti started doing maneuvers which are typical for those pilots who don’t care about others; so he flew across the thermal and in the middle of it where the best lift is. I would not have believed this, if I didn’t see it on my own eyes. Too bad my phone was again on tilt at that time and I couldn’t take a video of it. I trust that someone has one, since there were many cameras up.

About today’s flying day…well, you can read most of that from the official news and results. I followed the tracking at one point, and it looked like they we’re playing “follow the leader”-game. Wojtek said about the task that it was just pure luck who was the winner. The sky was blue and pilots followed the task, heading from one turnpoint to next, circling only if happened to find a lift and then continuing the task line. That means that there’s not too big differences on points after a day like this, of course outlandings will cause some difference.

Evening

Official organizers had a dinner at Narromine in the evening, for us was arranged an informal “get together”-party at the hangar starting at 20:00. I had dinner with Pete at RSL club and we came to see how the party was. Time was already after 21.00 at that time. Everybody sat outside, people were sitting on few groups, one big and few smaller ones. They all seemed to be flying so I thought that it’s too late for me to try to catch the conversation and so we went back to the hotel. I was just going to bed, when Gus came and we sat outside for a while and talked about coming parties etc.