Claire Scutter came in 2nd just behind teammate LisaTrotter for a great result in Standard Class.
Sheepishly, after the landout of every competitor on 10 January, weather forecaster Dave Shorter and task setter Bruce Taylor presented the day’s analysis at Monday’s briefing. After two rest days, the pilots were looking forward to some good flying and 13 January turned out to be a great soaring day – better than forecast.
By launch time at 12 noon, CU were beginning to pop. By the time the fleet arrived home after 5pm, the skyscape was filled with good-looking banks of clouds and there were convergences over the Kaputar range.
The conditions brought a fast racing day, although AATs were set in all classes.
Lisa Turner came 2nd in 18m Class just behind teammate Ailsa McMillan.
In 18m Class, Ailsa McMillan finished in 1st place just ahead of her Aussie teammate Lisa Turner with Katrin Senne taking 3rd place. Ailsa flew 555.98km at 147.79 kph for another great day win. Ailsa is on fire and clearly enjoying her competition. Lisa flew just 2km less at 147.42 kph making a great performance by the Australians. Two Czechs, Alena Netusilova and Jana Treslova, followed ahead of the French team Anne Ducarouge and Melanie Gadoulet.
The top of the 18m table is tightening, but the two French pilots have maintained their top two places with Melanie 1st and Anne 2nd. Liz Sparrow Great Britain is performing strongly and is in 3rd position. Defending world champion Katrin Senne is in 4th place with Ailsa in 5th. However, the French are more than 160 points ahead of Liz, making it more difficult for them to be caught – if they can keep their performance up. Katrin is just 25 points behind Liz, making 3rd place very much in contention.
In Standard Class, Australian pair Lisa Trotter and Claire Scutter took the top two slots for another great performance by the Aussie team. Lisa flew 508.98km at 135.09 kph and Claire 134.69km at 134.69 kph. Aude Untersee from France took 3rd place followed by Akemi Ichikawa from Japan and Aude’s teammate, defending world champion Aude Grangeray.
At the top of the Standard Class scoreboard, Sarah Arnold keeps her top position 132 points ahead of Lisa Trotter and Aude Grangeray who both have 5,966 points. Anna Piotrowska from Poland was knocked back two places to 4th position followed by Claire Scutter who gained 4 places on the day. Britain’s Ayala Truelove lost two places and is now in 5th place overall.
Akemi Ichikawa took 4th place in Standard Class.
It was a good day for Germany in Club Class with their team of Christine Grote and Sabrina Vogt coming home 1st and 2nd. Christine flew 474.68km at 114.88 kph. Barbora Moravcova had a good day coming in 3rd place followed by Elena Fergnani from Italy.
At the top of Club Class, Australian Jo Davis maintains her leading position 28 points ahead of Céline Rault with the two Germans in 3rd and 4th, followed by Elena from Italy in 5th.
There are a potential four more competition days to fly – but no – can it be? Can rain really be on the horizon? Today looks like another great soaring day and the rest of the week’s weather will unfold as it does and there is nothing we can do about it. So today could be another step forward or backward for the each competitor or even a thrilling finish to what is turning out to be a great World Championships.
