16.00 update: Pilots are on their way.  I love it when start times are given, it is so easy but not on all comps they do it.

So there is a difference between the first and last glider in open class of 32 minutes. Tomas Rendla was the first to leave at 13.57 with his Czech mate.
The last to depart was Patrick; after the re- light he might have needed some more time; 14.29 ….3 minutes behind Pete Harvey.
In 18 m. the first departure was at 14.02.the last left at 14.37! So 35 minutes difference.
In 15 m. class we still miss the German start times but the first departure in this class was at 14.29 the last one at 14.53. But the German pilots should be in the air as their average speed at this time is 140 km./h.

All sites I can read are positive about their pilots.
Sniffer Peter Alexander just got back on the ground and his glider is tied down in front of me again.

Weather still looks great. Hear about 7 kts lift!!! And the temperature here at the field/launch area  was 43° C.

17.00 update : Looking at the tracking the 18 m. pilots just passed by not too far to the east from Uvalde on their 173 km. long leg. So about 240 km. to go. Still great conditions here.

Just spoke to a few people about tape. The problem is that ordinary tape we use in Europe MELTS. That was the reason Pete lost one part of his doors yesterday. He has n’t got an engine in it yet, so  the doors were taped but part of the door is lost in the air. So they got stronger tape to close the hole and tonight we see if it stuck!! Yes that sun here is HOT.

Put the finish line frequency on—122.80, but it still might be at least an hour of waiting. Though….the pilots go fast; I hear about 147 km/h. in 18 m. class. In open class they have strong lift as well up to over 4 m/s. It looks like a fast day without weather problems, pretty straight forward!!!.

Yesterday Bruce Taylor flying in the open class with the biggest weather problems, wrote a nice blog about his flight here is part of it for those who can’t read the Aussie FB site:

From Bruce. Incredibly pleased with today’s flight. We knew right from the outset that the last turn was going to be trouble, as “Weatherman Dan” and our own interpretations from Alex all pointed to a number of possibilities for an early shutdown out east. We started early, first I think, but as we progressed on task the reports came in that a line of showers were moving even faster than we thought. The rest of the task was OK, though not a typical booming Texas day, with some areas where the conditions were very mixed and difficult to pick. Approaching the last turn I knew I had a reasonable lead over the rest of the crowd, but I could see that great care would be needed to survive. I managed a fast climb right to cloudbase, and then it was just a case of managing the long, long glide around the last turn and home. In hindsight I could have done this part of the flight better, but I sneaked home and two-thirds of our class didn’t. We even managed to squeak over the required finish height with the help of a little bubble just before I got to it. Very, very relieved to get back.
All the Aussies went really well. With some luck Tom might have a day win in 18m, and everyone else got good points. The team are a happy bunch tonight!

That was ofcourse yesterday! Dick Butler with the CONCORDIA,  landed on an airfield and had a retrieve back home. Most of the outlandings in open class yesterday was “pulling the engine” so not all were out at[ air]-fields.

18.00 update; A few minutes ago the stewards moved slowly to the field as well as the boys helping out. We hope for the first finishes in about half an hour. So stand by. I hear that people in Europe keep following what’s happening here while looking at soaringcafe or their home site, during their night shifts. Good on them!!! In Holland they use matches to keep their eyes open! Crews arrive with their radio’s. Mine is still on. No noise!
Will try to pick up a few of the arrivals but , to be honest soaringspot is so quick, you can see it straight away and it saves me some stressie -work.

18.15: the first  18 m. gliders are back home!!!!! I heard PL, LM, MC, GR, WB,

18.25 :WE, MS , 2T, RP 10km.,QX, P7, PC finish and V 10 k.lot’s of gliders on down wind from the S. for 15. All pretty happy voices over the radio.
18.30 : M6 10 k.,  4 T 10 k.  open class is finishing as well. AS ,DB, K1 10 k.,57  10 k., MSI 10 k.,  DB, KT, HW , VI, FB, E1, GB,
18.35 : MR 8 k.,  Just looked at 9 gliders turning in and all land nicely behind each other on the taxi and runway 15. EB back.[18.42] CA for runway.VB, MP 10 k.,
About 7 gliders on downwind.
18.45 : AL 10 k.,  IP2 10 k.,EY 10 k.

On the gaggle talk site;
—Just bought some stuff at my neighbour here and he sells now fresh bread from the BAKERY: German bread , French bread, Italian bread , Dutch rolls and more!!!! Have a look on the right from me. All mini ‘s healthy stuff for 4,-

John Hill is in the soft drink booth selling also the bread and…he sponsors as business in medical scrubs;  Slovenian pilot Borstjian Pristavic in open class. A real entrepreneur, who brings as much as possible, like concerts etc to Uvalde. and a lovely person who takes care of my bike and computer when I am at briefing.

 

 — While waiting…..Some pictures from interested people visiting this afternoon. Dennis the TC from team USA explains them a bit more about gliding. Carol took the pictures.

 

•  Gliders are still coming back. Glider I just announced his arrival at 19.17.
  AE .10 k , T 10 k. another pilot 10 k., 34 8k., 011, AE.
  Off to dinner now. CU tomorrow! Thanks for all the kind reactions.