Wrap up day 1; first official practice day!
Goodmorning! Yesterday evening while having dinner, we heard that local pilots flew over 900 km!! [ Look on the OLC for their flights!] So it turned out to be a real good day.
Indeed, “our” meteo was correct for the task: we saw 2 clouds , but also faraway lots of huge clouds behind the mountains. Our pilots mentioned strong bleu thermal activity.

Andrej Kolar , from Naviter, has arrived and will stay for a while to assist with the see- you -scoring -system.
Visa- Matti from Finland has arrived to be steward.
Mauricio, the web master arrived yesterday evening correctly in time and explained me in a few words the system to directly communicate with you. As we still had problems with internet I could not straightaway use it, which was a pity. They work VERY HARD to get internet going!!!!

Official practice day ; 2.

Briefing at 10.30. First gliders on the grid already at 9 and after. Club class upfront.
Clouds at 8 already, when we walked to town to have our breakfast.

TASKS;
Club class; 220,2 km. Polygon with 5 points.

Standard class; 291,6 km. Polygon with 4 points.

Briefing was short and to the point. Alex Bruttini, the task setter was introduced . He is the chief instructor from the local Aeroclub Centrale di Vola a Vela.
He had some very important recommendations on safety for the pilots. I will mention a few!
Look out and outside! Not only on your instruments!
Fly defensive!
If you have flarm- still look out!
If you fly over unlandable area; have ENOUGH height to get over it or have ridge flying skills.

Andrej Kolar was introduced and he gave some info about the airspace.

The weather; Already yesterday night we could feel moisture! This moist is all trapped due to the inversion in the lower atmosphere. The meteoman expects more clouds then yesterday 2-4. and W. of the Apennines a weak NW wind.
Look for actual weather on the WGC site! It is on!

First launch expected at 13.00 and
IT WAS at 13.00. Tug engines were started at 14.50.
Only ONE word for the launches; brilliant! They are quick and smooth and up to 700 m. Of course they have 12 tugs , with excellent “ tuggies” in it and yes there are only 57 competitors, but still this is extraordinary!
The first pilot is back when the last one goes up , so there is nearly no delay. In a bit more then half an hour , all pilots were up in the air except for glider 40 with Douglas Bradley. As it looked its wheel collapsed and when I am writing they are looking at it. But…he was launched just after 2.
Drop off zone for the ropes is under control by people organized by the organization and crew collects their rope with them. No worries!
Weather at 13.00 up to 15.00: superb! Clouds everywhere, a weak wind from the NW, but…….hot!!!! Though the meteo says it is “ only” 34 dgr. It feels like 44!!!!