SAFA Skysailor Magazine

26 SKY SAILOR March-April-May | AUTUMN 2026 exactly what you’d expect from a national championship. Registration day arrived hot and smoky, and the early‑week forecast wasn’t exactly inspiring. But this isn’t a sport for pessi- mists; everyone turned up ready to make the most of whatever the sky offered. In the end, the firefighters’ efforts were extraordinary. They had the blazes well under control before the week was out, the smoke was mostly pushed clear of our area, visibility stayed good, and the forecasted winds proved far worse on paper than in reality. Our hill crew kept everything running smoothly, with warm thanks going to Craig Collings (meet director), Alex Bryse (launch director), and Dean Hunkin (safety direc- tor) for their professionalism and calmness under pressure. Competitions rely heavily on the skill and judgement of the task committee, and we were fortunate to have an excellent team this year. Geoff Wong, Gareth Carter, James Brewer and Wally Arcidiacono made the most of the sometimes challenging conditions, and consistently delivered thoughtful, well‑balanced tasks. Bright Open All photos: Heidi Krueger