SAFA Skysailor Magazine

29 January | February 2022 SKY SAILOR “Was the course a nautilus? A cat’s cradle? Anyway, the way to do it turned out to be to use the convergence as a launchpad and dart out to make the TPs. We had everything from sunny bubbles at the start to an ominously tall cloud bank at the Mesa, then an incredibly buoyant line through the convergence to the final TP, where none of us turned for almost 10km. We all hit ESS and shared a slow, polite thermal over Cerro Gordo on our way to a beautiful goal at the lake.” 11 December, Task 5 – 94km Up to TP2 the race was very tight, then two groups formed, one headed off in the direction of take-off, the other towards Le Peñón. Both rejoined a little later under the convergence. Most pilots landed on the plateau on the way to or from the last TP as clouds shaded out the area, only 25 managed to get to goal. 12 December, Task 6 – 94km More humidity than on previous days created more clouds. The task took pilots south, with goal below take-off. It was a fast task. Strong conditions under the convergence meant pilots could fly almost without turning. This made TP1 and back to the ‘g spot’ nice and easy. The average speed of the lead gaggle was more than 40km/h and the final glide to the ESS was a fast and furious dash with Maxime Pinot’s more direct line paying off for his 11th PWC task win ahead of 109 others in goal. 14 December, Task 7 – 118km Today started with super fast climbs and high cloudbase. On the way back, the wind picked up to 30km/h and blew the thermals away. In the blue and with higher ground elevation it was hard to find any lift. Only 29 pilots managed to reach goal; tired but happy. 15 December, Task 8 – 94km A nice task with some tricky moments. The field divided into two with Honorin Hamard and Philipp Haag equal first overall racing to TP4 in 2023 PWC Calendar Castelo, Brazil 18 to 25 March 2023 Pegalajar, Spain 6 to 13 May 2023 Sacele - Brasov, 24 June to 1 July 2023 Romania Aksaray, Turkey 29 July to 5 August 2023 Targasonne, 26 August to France 2 September 2023 Superfinal, Baixo 5 to 16 March 2024 Guandu Brazil different groups, but within sight of goal, the leaders got stuck, scraped across ESS, somehow managed to get a climb and make goal as those watching held their breath – 73 pilots made it. 16 December, Task 9 – 102km Stable and a long task. At the start, over the flats, pilots were always close to the ground. After crossing the plateau en-route to TP2, the convergence helped. North to TP3, the terrain was over 3000m – as they flew over the Monarch butterfly mountain, thousands of these joined the pilots in a thermal. Then followed a long leg to the last TP and ESS. Maxime Pinot broke away from the lead gaggle, climbed on a sunny SW facing slope near TP3 and on his own took the convergence line from TP4 to ESS and crossed ESS a stag- gering 17 minutes before the others – a crush- ing performance. Only 37 pilots made goal. 17 December, Task 10 – 74km Two lead gaggles, one with Honorin, Philipp and Baptiste, the other with Maxime Pinot in their midst, the leaders battling for the finale – all looked to be in convergence. Maxime raced in from the south but Honorin Hamard crossed ESS first, making him the Super Final Champion! In all 77 pilots made goal. More details, photos, all winners and full results can be found on PWC.org .