POST 1.313.

The “back-to-the-basics SKYRACE- GP” between January 2 and 10, was not too lucky with the weather. Storms with thunder and lightning and showers did not help to set tasks,….”Weather didn’t play ball with a few days of heavy rain leaving the tasking area soaked” Nick Gilbert… so on January 6 they still had 1 day of flying.[ task 204 km.

That did not change one day later ,…storms again….BUT,…..the good news was “Last 3 days look flyable though“
“Sadly we’ve lost 3 days on the trot – but the good news is there’s blue sky on the horizon & the next 3 days are looking good.”
AND,….indeed a 170 km. task was set and flown BUT, only up to 100 km. by Andy and Christian, so an invalid day with many out-landings. Nice at Leeton but very wet and showery further on.

But,…as you can see the atmosphere is still good.

And more happiness ….” Maddog Composites is our much appreciated Major Sponsor this year. Last night Andrew Maddocks treated pilots, crews and volunteers to a pizza night at the club. Thank you, a very enjoyable night for all.”

After all this,….. there was a task 6 won by Andy and as runner up Scott.
90 km./h for Andy and 88 km./h for Scott ,start at 14.55 finish between 16.31 and 16.54. Difference in handicap; Hornet 1000 and St. Libelle 0.980.
Not all pilots finished.
AND then….ONE more task number 7 ,but flying day 3. Very last day!!!!
Another difficult one with a forecast of over development. Scott Lennon flew 173 km in his St. Libelle, and,…as Andy who won 2 days was “only” 6th for the day in the Hornet, the overall score on the last day “moved” to Scott instead of Andy.
So final scores; 24 points for Scott Lennon , 22 for Andy Maddocks and 20 for Christian Streifeneder .
“And that’s a wrap folks! A tricky day has overturned the tables, with Scott Lennon pushing hard to take out first home, and with it the competition!
The look on his face says it all…
Well done!Andy MaddocksChristian Streifeneder
We’ve had an amazing competition, with many interesting days and soggy retrieves. The camaraderie from everyone to retrieve bogged gliders, 4x4s and more from paddocks and enjoy a drink at the end of the day is the reason Skyrace is what it is.”
I REALLY do like it too!!!!!

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The African continent had some weather-troubles this season too. Namibia had absolutely fabulous weather ,but also days with “only” 600 km. and that’s not why lot’s of pilots go there. But no complaints they still love it.
Some days were really blue, there was less convergence as I heard and when it was there it disappeared again. But flying is flying and there is always …the next day. Though not that long anymore in Africa as the rain season starts soon too.
South Africa had some good days from Worcester and last week Douglas could be added with 700 km. flights. The first real good day from this season in Douglas, was on January 5 ;
“Today was the first real Douglas day this season. Lots of fun mainly on the Ghaap plateau. This is why I’m here.”
New Tempe had around 500 km. flights.
On January 6 not only the 3 kings arrived, but also superb weather again in Namibia;
All 4 places [Bitterwasser, Kiripotib ,Veronica and Pokweni] enjoyed over 1000 km. flights .Our 2 young Dutch mates Alfred Paul and Mark, both individually already kilometer- eaters this time flying together in the ARCUS M had a TOPDAY; 1.219 km with a speed of 163 km./h!!!!
“What a wonderful day !! We had some issues to find a good climb in the blue at Kiripotib, so we were only able to fly away on track at 11.50. The first hour was still difficult, but afterwards nice lines started towards the North. We flew maybe a bit too far North as the conditions were not that great there with some showers. Afterwards we could follow a nice line towards the SE-NW where we for more than 4 hours averaged more than 180kmh.”
Great to see my Lasham mates Patrick and Roy flew a 1000 km. from Bitterwasser as well.
Another 17 x a 1000 km.
Best distance was 1.246 km by another kilometer-eater-couple, Bernd and Guy.
A great “end-of-the-season-weather-race “, so normally mid/end of January. It might be longer as it started later too, the weather you know……
On January 7 another 16x a Namibian-1000 ,...6 of them over 1.100 km!!!
My Dutch mates flew another 1000 in the ARCUS M and here is the comment:
“Again an incredible day at Kiripotib ! However the first 4 hours were difficult! The first hour again in the blue and weak and also the hours afterwards when we were flying to the South we constantly were low with beautiful clouds which would not give the expected lift, forcing us to fly mostly 1000m below the cloud base. When turning North again it almost seemed if the airmass changed completely or the thermal switch was activated 🙂 Great lines which developed towards CB’s but which allowed for a great path along the shower lines. The last 2 thermals one after 7PM were still 3.5-4m integrated ! And the cloud street was working almost until sunset. Wonderful and interesting day. It is not hard to get addicted to Kiripotib 🙂 Thanks again all for the help and the awesome atmosphere “

By the way there are 7 Dutch pilots at the moment flying in Namibia.
It was really nice to see that former Aerokurier journalist Gerd Marzinzik had an EB 28 flight with Reinhard Schramme;1.111 km!!!
I met Gerd at several comps and he visited Tocumwal as well.

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—–“Since my first XC wave flight at the end of 2019, I have been eyeing conditions that would allow me to complete all my diamonds while also squeaking out 1000km. Finally a day where all the stars aligned, epic forecast, car and glider ready to go, towplane and pilot, necessary clearance, as well as some buddies to share the day with. I made 2 turnpoints, the first one about a mile north of Boomer which would serve as my start and finish point as well as my 2nd and 4th turnpoint, and the other one 169.5km to the north, located inside the forecast wave bar 0.25 miles south of the 2508 border. Doing a six leg yoyo between these 2 points would yield a 1017km flight.“
These are the words from Zachary Yamauchi.
He flew on January 7 also a 1000, in a Discus, from Inyokern in the USA, but flying from there means totally different circumstances. No deserts under but snowy mountain tops.
The rest of his story, WITH pictures, is in the OLC on January 7 flight number 19 on the world wide list.

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As said earlier , the West of Australia is this year really good for soaring. Cunderdin is one of the places to be there in the West and from January 8 till 16, they flew/fly the WAGA [West Australian Gliding Association] State Championships there with 21 pilots in one handicapped class.
Task 1 on January 8;
They started with a 3 hour AAT and Norm [Bloch] won de first day with 428 km in time 3.11,nice speed of 134 km./h.
His JS 3 flew faster than the runner up from Greg [Beecroft] in the LS 8;383 km in time 3.08.
Task 2; showed another 3 hour AAT and now it was Greg who was in as daily winner;363 km. in time 3.12 for 371 km. in time 3.03.[ handicap; 1.01 for JS 3 and 1.085 for LS 8]
Task 3 ; 2.30 AAT won by the big bird the ASH 25E from Arnold Geerlings, who flies it with different friends.
Task 4; 3 hour AAT and another pilot again as daily winner , this time Daryl Mackay in an ASW 20 C.363 km in time 2.56. Norm [JS3] and Joshua Geerlings in his JS 1 flew over 400 km. in 3.09 and 3.11.
Task 5; Today 2.30 AAT.
More next week.

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The 8th National Argentinian Club Class Nationals will be flown from Santa Rosa between January 10 and 21.
Task 1 was a set 314 km. distance for all 43 pilots.17 From the 40 who started finished and the daily best was a team in a Janus A [handicap 101.4]
Both Goldenzweig brothers belonged to the outlanders. Lucas 7 k out and Damian 14 k.
No task 2.
More next week.

That’s it for now , see you next week.
Cheers Ritz