As we drove out on day 8 we could see some clouds building high on the horizon, while we were setting up it became clear we would have overdevelopment in the area. The organization did try to set a course that would keep us out of trouble, but after having three different task briefings and people were getting ready to start, the start window remained closed and the day was cancelled. It rained hard as we drove back to Brasilia so it turned out to be a wise decision.

Today was planned as rest day, and we take it easy. The weather is overcast and rain so the timing was good. The bad new is the weather forecast that predicts shitty weather for the next week. I do not believe it will be that bad, the official meteo info we get in the comp seems worthless regarding clouds and thermals. The wind direction and strength have been OK, but that is the easiest forecast. My wrists and back need some rest after having flown 2 long days with a right turn in the glider. I did some tuning to have more high-siding in the glider and this made the glider spiral right. Most gaggles have gone left so I had to lowside and work hard to stay inside the thermals and avoid traffic. I have adjusted the right glass tip, so it should be straight again now.

All in all I feel the organization of the Worlds in Spain was a level better than here. The good things is that it is more room to set up here, and more launch lanes so it easy to take off when you want. Everyone takes off as soon as the window opens anyway, and the conditions have been better than in Algodonales with fewer death gaggles and no low inversion. The scoring is also efficient, with provisional results ready at 21:00 every night.

You may have noticed that I have not written about Jon Gjerdes results. He was refused to fly in the worlds because he did not qualify within 60 days before the world. This is a CIVL rule we did not know about, we applied for an exception since he had travelled all the way and was technically qualified, but it was refused. He then wanted to fly with us anyway to learn and train, but after the first day he was refused to even fly the course, and to quote the CIVL stewards could “under no circumstances land in goal”. It was also pointed out that the team would be penalized if he did break the rules. This of course no fun at all and Jon decided to go home. During the comp there have been many Brazilian non-competitor pilots flying the task, and landing in goal. This is not acceptable for us, and we will protest. It is clear that we are being treated unequal.

I think the last two flight have been the best and most rewarding flying I have ever done. The 155km day I flew fast and stayed with the top pilots all the way, I even beat Manfred the last half of the course as he passed me in a thermal before the second TP but I beat him to goal. (He had a later start time so he did have a better time anyway :-)) 27. place that day was really nice as I have had a hard time the first days of the comp. Getting to goal after a 192km task was also very satisfying, I lost the gaggle early and did much of the task flying on my own, or with a few other pilots. The level of the pilots here is incredibly high, I did not climb much on the total score even after two really good days.