Another blue day at WGC2017, this one just a bit better than several previous examples.  Yesterday’s river of cloud marched obediently away to the northeast.  A large area of cloud and rain to our west looks like a problem for tomorrow.  But today we sat in yet another nearly cloud-free airmass between these problems.  One forecast had the western cloud leaking into our task area late in the day, and indeed the first signs of it were in view by late afternoon – but it had little effect on today’s flying

Tasks were actually on the short side today, and in at least one class (15-Meter) this led to late starts and serious gaggling.  No contact was reported, but more than a few pilots felt this was another several hours of uncomfortable and at best marginally safe flying.  Regular fear for your and your glider’s well-being can take much of the fun out of this sport.

The Open class did 500 km today, which for gliders and pilots at this level was actually rather straightforward.  Not much changed at the top of the scoresheet, which shows 16 pilots within 30 points of first place.  Among them was Mike Robison, flying N1K, a JS-1 very kindly loaned for this contest by Steve Nichols.

Tonight was International Night, when all teams are encouraged to present food and drink emblematic of their country (the US Team offering was margaritas and ‘smores).  This was all laid out in one of the sizeable hangars on the airfield (normally where towplanes rest for the night) and the amount and variety of solid and liquid fare was impressive.  Absent considerable willpower, there was no reason for anyone to leave hungry or entirely sober.  I suspect many consulted tomorrow’s forecast (currently suggesting the chance of a task is around 25%) and gauged their intake accordingly.

Anyone interested in Australian language curiosities should Google Let Stalk Strine 1, the title of a seminal 1965 book by Afferbeck Lauder 2.  He presents a whole series of (often hard to decipher) examples of authentic Australian pronunciations, along with definitions that give clues as to their meaning.  Here are a few examples (cheat sheet provided below):

Baked Necks – a popular breakfast dish 3

Dismal Guernsey – dollars and cents 4

Egg Nishner – device for cooling and purifying the air 5

Emma Chisit – price inquiry 6

Furry Tiles – sick humor for kids 7

Harps – thirty minutes past the hour, as in “Harps two” 8

Rise Up Lides – sharpened metal wafers, used for shiving 9

Scona – meteorological term, as in “Scona rine” 10

Share – bathroom water spray 11

 

 

 

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  1. “Let’s talk Australian”
  2. “Alphabetical order” (pseudonym for Alastair Ardoch Morrison).
  3. “Bacon and eggs”
  4. “Decimal currency”
  5. “Air conditioner”
  6. “How much is it”
  7. “Fairy tales”
  8. “Half past”
  9. “Razor blades”
  10. “It’s going to”
  11. “Shower”