It was supposed to be a day like yesterday: same airmass, just a bit warmer.  Many were not looking forward to another weak blue day.  They needn’t have worried – the “bit warmer” made a huge difference: shortly after launch gliders had reached an area of cu to the south where 7-kt climbs to over 8000’ were easy to find.

Best altitudes during the day exceeded 9000’, and there was some concern it might be possible to exceed FL95 (9500’ – the maximum altitude allowed in the Czech Republic).  This apparently didn’t happen – no penalties were assessed.  The 2-hour task wound up looking like a significant undercall – the day could have supported 4 hours of flying.

Sarah had a “middle of the pack” flight – not great, not bad.  This leaves her in second place overall, some 60 points out of first.

The upcoming curious ritual (scheduled not for tonight, but for tomorrow evening) is known as Baba Yaga, named after a legendary Slavic witch.  Apparently, each pilot attending her first WWGC must be indoctrinated as a junior witch by those who’ve previously been through this.  A bonfire and unspecified quantities of distilled spirits are said to be involved.  A report will follow.