Today was a strange one. Forecasts agreed that an approaching front would at last sweep away the awkward airmass that has been troubling us for the past several days. As it approached, lift would improve, briefly reaching excellent altitudes (over 8000 ft) before rain invaded the task area.
The front took its time, leading to multiple launch delays (by 15-minutes steps) from a very optimistic 11:30 to 13:15. The Assigned Area tasks were short, and later shortened further: 2:00 for Club class, 1:45 for 15-Meter, just 1:30 for Standard class. The predicted excellent altitudes were eventually achieved – mostly under a certain few cumulus clouds – but good lift was sporadic, hard to center and very hard to find when low.
Most pilots again chose to delay their starts long after their task-opening time: indeed, only a few started within the first available hour. This makes sense when task times are short and conditions are improving, but of course means lots of time spent in crowded pre-start gaggles. I think there's considerable sentiment here that more time on task and less spent milling around near home would be preferable.
The key to the day was to start high and make long glides to the few strong climbs (assuming you could know where to find them). US Team pilots didn't really make this work. Tony and Sylvia found a couple of good climbs, but also had to work a number of weak ones. Mike never connected with the best conditions in the first turn area, but had a fairly good run into the second one and then home, yielding a respectable score and 16th place for the day. Jared did find one really good climb – and then not much at all. He was overtaken by shadow from tall clouds associated with the encroaching front, and had to start his engine not far north of Tabor.
The 100-point penalty applied to Tom Arscott's flight on Day 4 was (unsurprisingly) the subject of a formal protest by the British team. We now hear that the protest has been adjudicated by the Jury, with the effect that the penalty has been removed (restoring Tom to first place in 15-Meter class). The Jury will issue a full report on this, which I'm sure will be read eagerly by all here.
I'm remiss for thus far failing to mention an important part of life here in Czechia: beer. This area can in some sense be considered the home of beer as a refined – even elegant – beverage. A monastery in Prague is recorded as brewing beer 1100 years ago. The connection of two nearby towns – Plzeň and České Budějovice – to beer is more evident to Americans under their German names: Pilsen and Budweis. The largest Czech brewery – and certainly among the best – is Pilsner Urquell. Our careful research here finds that the ranking of Czechia in the list of per-capita beer consumption (first in the world) makes perfect sense.
-John Good