The last day

I must confess that i did not look forward to the last day at all. It was going to be blue, hot and crowded. Particularly after the previous day i was happy to let sleeping dogs like. But once i was off tow (third on the grid) and climbing in 2 to 3m/s my whole perspective of life changed (it is wonderful what a strong thermal can do for one). So, despite my carefully planned tactics (see the previous post) i decided to do it by the book. Into the startgame gaggle!!!! keeping a beady eye on everyone and in particular who is setting of for the start line. Early on some leave but i wait - then i see two determined LS8's setting of that could only be the french or, unlikely, the brits (as they are past masters at out-waiting everyone - and, in any event the two Rebbeck brothers are teamflying with the kiwis'. In the first thermal i catch up with them and it is Laurent and Marc. We grow into a small band of four gliders, really flying of the front of the class and coming out of the first turn we can Y (Giorgio Ghalletto leading the big Italian pack into the turn (still 20 km away for them) . We meet the brits on their way in 10 km later. We continue on our merry way, catching up with the earliest starters and some gliders in other classes.
We go through the L'Aquila valley, but not quite onto the Grand Sasso. On its foothills we catch a good climb and a whole gaggle (mostly other classes) join below us. In our group is now also FUN (Alexander, my spanish nabour in Sweden) E2 Jelmer Wassenaar from Holland and KO from Finland. We push on towards Castellucio when i hear 2A, Ben Flewett, calling to say that he is in real trouble in a valley and his only landing option is a lake. I have never expected to hear Ben in a panic, and perhaps he wasn't, but he was certainly rattled. Chaps, he says, there are boats down there, so there are people who will be able to pick me up. The tension is palpable in the air and no-one says a word, just Ben reporting on his intentions - echoing the real trouble he finds himself. It is amazing (and it should not be) how quickly your world can turn topsy turvy in a glider.

What seems like ages - "Chaps you won't believe this, but i have found a thermal" He continues reporting, saying progressively that he can make it out of the valley, then that he is climbing away and finally that he is OK, but turning the radio off.

Apparently he could see the swirl of the thermal as he was setting the landing up and made it out of the valley from just 82m of the water!!! It was only on final glide that he realised that his wheel was still down (some 200km later)!!!

Ben was not the only one to come unstuck - Bruce Taylor who had been flying a flawless contest up to that moment outlanded at the second turnpoint. To demonstrate the lucklessness of that landing - the two Rebbecks corked a 5m/s plus thermal at the second turn, - which they gracefully took - and it sealed the day's victory for them.

In the meanwhile our happy group spread a tiny bit - with french duo slightly ahead. I did not get the good climb i knew the Rebbecks had and just pushed onto the Valle Nerina - or as the Ozzies and Kiwis call it the valley of death. 2000ft below glide i am tucked onto the slopes of Nerina with a tiny glider ahead and below me (10km ahead) at 10km out i overtake him, only slightl higher, but i dare say a lot faster (water does help) and go on the finish the day in 11th place (just behind the french).

Finally a real contest day, flown in good standard class tradition, and in the company of some real tough pilots.

3G

POST SCRIPT
Perhaps i should have flown the whole contest as i did the last day, or perhaps i should have been in a multi-national team, but i sincerely believe that it is important to go out there, and fly by yourself. next year will be wholly different, in order to do well, you have to fly in the gaggle (especially on blue days in Rieti, as Leonardo himself, has admonished me after the second last day - he pointedly asked me what mistakes i made. The first and the biggest, i responded, was not to fly in the gaggle. "Obviuosly", he responded.
It was one of the most wonderful experiences imaginable to fly from Rieti. I have flown all the major mountians, (save for the Maila), even though we had only one real ridge day. On that day i had a really fast leg down to San Biaggio so i am really looking forward to returning here (selection permitting of course). The skills Martin had taught me will stand me in good stead ;-)
I end of with a picture taken the Saturday night at a farm restaurant, attended by mostly Italian and Austrian pilots and their supporters.