It was a great day for the US Team!  Even with a late launch Daniel Sazhin and Tim Taylor turned in awesome results.  Daniel won the day in Club Class and Tim Taylor placed second on the day in 15 Meter Class.  It was a difficult day with awesome results.

Club class launched and was sent out on Task A, the longer Task.  Reports from both Daniel and JP that weather looked like it was over developing at the start but reported that they were not having any trouble finding lift.  The excitement really started when the Club Class gliders were approaching the last turnpoint.  Thies Bruins (IV) and Daniel had moved well out front and started down the final leg.  All of club class was getting low and falling further behind.  Daniel and Thies headed home getting out in front of each other several times. Then Daniel approached a thermal that Thies was in, bumped it and kept going.  Thies stayed a bit and then moved east a little then turned south. Daniel soon acquired final glide and finished.  Meanwhile the rest of Club Class began landing out and trailers began leaving the field.

15 Meter and Standard Class tasks were changed to Task B and delayed soon after Club Class launched.  Tim and Sean got started early.  By the time they reached to second turnpoint they were Flying well with the Pols.  Tim Reached the second turnpoint with Sebastian Kawa (RP) close behind.  Tim spent the next hour and a half covering his opponent (sailing tactic) until about 20K from the finish when Sebastian manage to get a little ahead of Tim.  Tim crossed the finish cylinder minutes behind Sebastian for second place on the day.  Meanwhile 75 percent of 15 Meter was landing out and trailers were leaving the field.

Standard Class was last to launch.  Sarah and Tom got started quickly as the weather was not improving but it wasn’t getting any worse.  Watching their tracks they managed to get to just less than 5000Ft but spent most of the afternoon between 2000Ft and 4000Ft.  All pilots were flying from one sun on the ground spot to the next to stay in the air.  Both Sarah and Tom completed the task and move up the score sheet.  Meanwhile a little more that a quarter of Standard class were landing out and trailers were leaving the field.

Today August 18, 2021 the weather is solid overcast and the day has been cancelled.  We will have to wait until tomorrow for pictures of American Glider Pilots on the podium at the World Gliding Championships.

Colin Mead

Captain