Pre-European Gliding Championships, 1995, Räyskälä, Finland

Rain Day

Räyskälä 6.6.1995

Weather has ruined already two days in a row at Räyskälä

A narrow cloudy area flowing over Finland from the south ruined already the second day in a row at the Pre-European Championships at Räyskälä. Western part of Finland is situated between two high pressure areas and some upper cloud is constantly flowing in. All meteorologists, qualified and self-made, assured that the cloudy area will move to west by Tuesday morning. Clouds kept their way, however, and decided to camp over the contest site for the whole day. Clear skies were reported only 40km east from Räyskälä.

The two-week contest is well on its way with only four possible flying days left. Winners will be announced, even if no flyable days would come before the contest ends at 10th June, because we already have six contest days together. Tasks have been variable and demanding, and Finnish pilots have succeeded well along the renowned foreign names.

After six competition days, standard class is lead by the Junior European Champion Julien Henry, DA, France. The next are the Brigliadori, Riccardo and Leonardo, RB and LB, Italy, in that order. Asko Pankka, A2, Finland is fifth, and Juha Sorri, IU, Finland is seventh.

Thomas Gostner, GT, Italy has collected over 300 points more than the second, Frederic Hoyeau, RC, France. The third is Martti Koivula, VB, Finland. Thomas Gostner has been considered as a mountain expert this far, but as a surprise the man himself said he prefers flying on flat countryside to mountain flying. Gostner considers Räyskälä as a very equitable contest site; one can do well even with a modest knowledge of local conditions.

Tapio Savolainen
Competition Director