14.45 ; 3 Minutes after the start in 15 m. was open at 13.25,  ,the first pilots left on track. The last one at 14.01 Dutch pilot Steven Raimond.
In 18 m. a few times are not on yet but first pilot to leave was WE Bill Elliott. Update at 15.00 —–Last ones left at 14.28.
In open class only 12 started at this stage, first one at 13.25 and at this stage Michael Sommer at 13.51. All started last one at 14.30.
So with 3 hours and 2.45  hour tasks ,we know when they should/could be back. BUT…in open class some pilots started , came back almost an hour later and left again.
I heard that loggers are having problems as well due to the heat.Some just stop, so not only the people but also the equipment suffers from the heat. And…what about the closure of the canopies, and …..the tail dollies and wing walkers are too hot to pick up.

Francois Jeremiasse in the Q , Quintus M.

Dan’s meteo forecast ; the big band of moisture is still the factor today. [The first small showers popped up on the radar.]  The seabreeze will not have an effect , as Dan forecasts , it will not come too far inland, but isolated thunderstorm cells might as they form along it.

Compliments also to the scorers , doing such a quick job EVERY DAY. The receiving of the files is all automatic Ron told me as I asked him, and ready within 5 minutes ….it is processed, scored and published. Each class has his own scorer,  who is focussed on that class. After checking and re checking their jobs are done! See you is the program they use. About 20 gliders in open class have an engine and they also check  the run of their engines on the files.

16.00 update ;They are de-rigging the ARCUS, it will “sleep “tonight in it’s trailer. First pilots could be back in half an hour. Weather still looks good but to the NW you can see some overcast and cirrus. The wind is picking up NOW right as I write!!!
What was the best decision to go early or rather late????We will see it soon, …sure is that on days like this you can make a “HIT”.
16.05 ; A thunderstorm is West from us at Del Rio, but the “other” weatherman thinks it will pass by at Uvalde HOPE SO!! They just installed new software to reload all the time the browser window. It looks that storm will pass North from us. Hear the storm is DEFENITELY passing by Uvalde and it seems I hear so too, that landing procedures will be as normal.

 16.30 ; ready to see the finishes!!!Nobody on the radio yet!
16. 32 first pilots announce their arrival.
Just lost ALL call signs due to a failure of the net. SORRY.
At 17.10 pilots are still finishing 1 R just announced it’s arrival . He was last to depart in 15 m. class , finished already not long ago WO…4T..OG..CA…
Off  to the party tonight. A nice short day. Scores will be on soon!!!

On the GAGGLE TALK site.

—what about that! Not knowing each other, but being fan of each other. My idol Ed!Listened to his music for hours while living in Australia!

—just heard something REAL nice said by the wife of one of the people involved here, after arriving for a long weekend.
“Same circus, different clowns.”

—the SSA is doing good with their sales; polo’s and other clothing are nearly sold out. They have a lot of things for sale.

Al Tyler chairman of the SSA is helping out ,here [ with Patty Smith,] in the morning to install everything in the SSA booth. They do good business.

—Tonight there is a private party in town by one of the sponsors for team USA and team Australia. That’s where Ed Kilbourne is singing.  Tomorrow he will sing in the BIG white SSA tent here.

 CU tomorrow sorry , I want to spend some more time on research about Greg Cole and windward-performance. So that’s for tomorrow …I make time, he is such a nice and enthusiastic guy!!! Also for pictures from Andreea.

Cheers RITZ