Wednesday, June 19
    And another blow is dealt to the Czech Expedition for Flying in Southern Latitudes. Yesterday Michal Orolin was missed at the start and it looks like he followed the example of Marcel Konečny. We can only hope it's not something contagious ...!

    "One half of the young people see their future in an optimistic light, while the other half doesn't have the money for drugs", states an uplifting SMS message from home, received by one of the Czech racers. And because the irresistible Karl Vrbensky, thanks to his charming personality and immense effort, was able to negotiate a discount on beer with the local stadium vendor, the Czech racers belong to the second half.




    The wind on the starting ground, in contrast to yesterday, has picked up somewhat and the cumulous clouds start popping up above the crest before noon. Blue sky, sharp sunlight - racing weather made to order. The question remains, however, if the strengthening wind will not start complicating flying in the next couple of days. But he who is prepared is never surprised.




    A discipline with a total distance of 82 kilometers, leading over six turning points is announced at the briefing today. The goal is again the stadium in Tolmin and the starting point this time is the church in the municipality of Drežnica. The start window, as usual, is open from 12:30 to 13:30 and the starting point from 13:30 to 14:30.

    The stronger wind makes taking off more difficult, as well as centering risers and soon the first spare chute of a Slovenian racer appears above the crest. Fortunately nothing happens to the pilot.

    Other problems arise at the two turning points past Kobarid, where strong eastward-streaming winds make coming back difficult. With today's lowered bases at 1800m above sea level, and the strong downdraft of the risers towards the West, the wheat is soon separated from the chaff.



    Almost 40 pilots, including many Czech ones, have already been conveyed by truck from along the route to the stadium and everyone is watching the struggle of the group leader with the headwind in his attempts to reach the last turning point past Tolmin, in suspense. Jurij Vidic is in the lead, but his progress is only vaguely reminiscent of flight. He drops heavily into the wind shelter beneath the crest and sticks to the slope with strange acrobatics as tries to get into the 400 meter diameter circle around the broadcasting tower. He manages it a good 100 meters under the broadcaster and with his finishing glide, he gets over the goal line at an altitude of about 50 meters in the best time. Barely one-half minute after him, Karel Vrbenský lands at the goal, with the second best time and the fourth best time at the goal goes to Ondřej Holub.



    Twenty racers gradually fly in to the goal today. There are seven Czechs among them overall, including František Pavloušek, who is forced to bend up his legs in a low-altitude approach to the stadium. The winner of today's discipline is then, Jurij Vidic.

    Unfortunately, Czech pilots, Mirek Varvařovský and Radek Večeřa, are missing at the goal, which in the overall placing doesn't help our colors too much. Further more, Tomáš Brauner made it to the stadium, but received only 41 points from the scoring system. He was missing the start point in his GPS flight record. And friends of Mirek Varvařovsky had to post a deposit at the customs house to get him back after he'd been forced to make an emergency landing in Italy. The race is getting dramatic, and it's only Wednesday!