Friday the 13th at WGC2025 was a day much like 12th: often weak thermal lift to moderate altitudes in a cloudless sky. Today featured Area tasks, perhaps with the hope that these would reduce the tendency of gliders to concentrate, as Racing Tasks with their small turnpoints tend to do. But the short minimum times attached to each task – ranging from 2:30 down to 2 hours – gave pilots little option beyond touching each turn area, then promptly proceeding to the next.
We continue to be a bit puzzled at tasks short enough to be done in less than 3 hours (generally regarded as a minimum, weather permitting). Among other effects, it pretty well guarantees a long period of "start gate roulette" in which pilots mill around near their start line in one of a few (typically crowded) gaggles, waiting for others to start so as to have "marker" gliders out on course – very important on days when climbs are not marked by clouds. This is apparent when noticing how long after task-opening time the class winners started: in Club class, an hour and 22 minutes; in 15-Meter class, an hour and 48 minutes.
US Team pilots played the game about as others did. All started late enough to have some gliders ahead, and all got slowed at the end, as the day started to die a bit earlier than forecasts projected. Mike Sorenson needed one more good climb than could be found for a really good score; as it was, he finished 11th.
Tony Condon came up a trifle short, just outside the 5kn radius finish cylinder. He actually landed at an airport – though not on its runway. It turns out Tabor has two: the huge grass one hosting the contest, and another with a 6500' paved runway located about 7 km northwest. This airport has quite obviously been decommissioned: the runway is covered with piles of wood and dirt, making it completely unusable. Fortunately, an adjacent field is in fine condition, allowing Tony a trouble-free landing and a fast retrieve.
I should explain an issue I referred to in a previous report: laundry. Our hotel offers laundry service, but the charge amounts to $2.33 – per piece. We felt this a bit outside our budget, so naturally sought a laundromat – a thing apparently not to be found in a Czech city of 34,000. A curious alternative is available: Nearby (pilots fly over it below 100 ft when finishing to the east) is a Tesco super-store. On an exterior wall are three industrial-quality machines: One is a washing machine (listed capacity: 8 kg of clothes) that charges ~ $7 per load, which includes detergent (automatically inserted at the correct time). The second is a larger washing machine: ~$12 for 16 kg. The third is a large tumble dryer – figure on about $5 for sufficient dry time. These machines are popular – don't count on them being available when you show up with a bag or so of dirty clothes. When they become available, pay by credit card and off they go, doing their job well in a total of about 45 minutes. You can pass the time shopping in Tesco, or elsewhere, just as you choose (they appear to be available 24/7).
There's also the issue of ice cream. Tabor has no shortage of places selling this, but they strongly favor the soft-serve variety, which the purists on our team regard as inferior. The shop that serves 12 flavors of the homemade variety has thus far escaped detection. But our hotel offers an alternative: a sundae consisting of a small scoop of run-of-the-mill strawberry ice cream, another of chocolate, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream. Even the purists are willing to admit that this is acceptable.
-John Good