Friday post-briefing

Today, the tasks are shorter (not many pilots were flying the assigned practice tasks).

Nick's flying a 332.1 km near-triangle (start line and finish ring are not co-located).  18m a 334.5 km near-triangle, and Open a 332.6 near-square.

Grid time is 1320 and 1st takeoff is expected around 1350.  There will be less baking in the sun waiting for the sniffer to find lift.

The thermals are a bit lower today - 6,500'.  Yesterday, this was also the height, but if you look at the log files, one or two got up to 12,000' up in the hills.

We're preparing for the parade (with marching bands, but no jugglers or dancing bears (the assistant CD John Good does juggle before briefing, though)) tomorrow, then the opening ceremony at the Uvalde Fairgrounds at 1000 am.  Metman says we might have clouds...

Low-level moisture is creeping in, and Metman Dan Gudgel says that more typical Uvalde weather - which is to say, with Cumulus marked thermals - is on the way.  This morning was blue, then we briefly had a low stratus deck... nice to work in the shade briefly.

First contest day is Sunday.

If you haven't been to Soaring Cafe to see Maria's pictures, do yourself a favour and take a look.  Beautiful, as usual!  http://soaringcafe.com/2012/08/2012-wgc-photo-gallery/

Dan