SAFA Skysailor Magazine

30 SKY SAILOR May | June 2022 After an early launch straight into a thermal, I head quickly towards Cimetta. Cloudbase is already 3000m. I ignore Monte Salmone and fly directly to the Onsernone Valley. I carefully fly around the Locarno CTA and head in the direction of Centovalli. The timing is perfect. But then… yikes! The right-hand speed-system cord tears out of the pulley and disappears in the pod. Without the speed-bar in the Centovalli? I feel like a leaf in the wind. It’s not funny. Should I continue with the flight? The transition to the Val Grande National Park gives me time for some DIY… but the attempt to get the cord back through the pulley fails several times. A small carabiner has to do the job instead. Pushing the bar is heavy now, but at least it works. Before the important crossing into the Macugnaga Valley, the question arises whether to approach directly or along the ridge as close as possible to the valley entrance? I choose the safer route, but the detour doesn’t pay. I’m only at ridge height. Déjà-vu. As expected, there is a lot of wind in Macugnaga. A bit of time passes and then I get really good lift. I’m flying a little behind my schedule, so I adapt the plan. There is too much wind near the Monte Rosa massif. I barely make forward progress. The new schedule is pressing. I push forward and decide to set the first TP. A little short, I can forget the really big triangle. I head north-west towards the second TP. With a strong tailwind I enter the Formazza Valley. It is a joy to munch miles at this speed! Flying ahead of me are Martin Moser and Bruno Bohren. I try to reach them, but don’t quite get there. At the Basodino I climb to Photos: Friedli, courtesy Nova FAI triangle record on an EN A paraglider!