Another sunny morning in Welkom, however quite a stiff breeze is blowing from the Northerly direction, and there is some rubbish high cloud around which sadly appears to be increasing and not disappearing.

Scores, photos (in due course) and my daily reports are to be found on www.soaringspot.com 

As usual Allison has her sewing machine in the terminal building and is doing great business with shirts and hats being embroidered with the logo for those wishing to purchase.

It would seem that the Noah forecast and the SA weather bureau are giving slightly different opinions on what they expect the weather to do today!  Max temperature should be 31° with trigger temp. at 28.9°, and the dew point at 0°.  Later in the day the dew point will increase.  It should be a dry air-mass off to the west, though there is moisture expected to the north from the tropics as well as an inflow of moisture from the coast from the east to the west.  So there is conflict between the two met. forecasters as to when this will impact on the contest area.  Rain is expected, with winds and possibly thunderstorms – just a matter of when this will arrive!

Again emphasis was made about keeping a good look-out, and ensuring that pilots do not fiddle with their instrumentation whilst in gaggles and in thermals.  Essential advise, which is common sense, but sometimes is forgotten and the reminder is needed.

The usual 11 a.m. grid for gliders and the two tasks are as follows:

Open/18m.

Task A:  406.3 km.  Vierfontein – Migdol – Control NW

Task B:  3 ½ hr. AAT 289.6 km./528.8 km. Vierfontein (30 km. radius) – Migdol (40 km. radius) – Control NW

Club

Task A:  251.2 km. Mirage – Makwassie – Control NW

Task B:  3 ½ hr. AAT 180.5 km./390.2 km.  Mirage (30 km. radius) – Kingswood (30 km. radius) – Control NW

Until later.