SAFA Skysailor Magazine

32 SKY SAILOR May | June 2022 3800m, just brilliant! I glide into the Bedretto Valley, set my second TP, and go on to Airolo. With an increasing headwind, I continue along the south-western flanks of the Valle Leventina to Matro. The transition east at Biasca could prove difficult. I take another strong climb and then start the crossing. The height was needed. I start to feel confident. But on the opposite side, I suddenly find myself in the full force of the valley wind. Progress is difficult, so I turn back and soar up the next ridge until I reach the saving thermal. That was close. Onward, onwards, but it is getting late. I take every little thermal and creep southwards. Every time it’s close, but always just enough. At Lumino I need to transition into the Arbedo Valley. It’s now very late, there is hardly any sun. I’m too slow to set the third TP further east in Italy. I use the remaining valley winds to soar, but there are no more thermals. I crawl back to Bellinzona. Luckily, the valley wind has lessened. The sun has set. I glide down. I land. On that day lots of things worked well. An amazing flying day. Andrew Graham has put Toni’s track plus several of his air buddies on Ayvri . With this flight Toni Brügger succeeds Robert Schaller, also a Nova Team pilot. Robert was the first pilot to fly a +200km FAI triangle with an EN A wing. On 11 August 2015, he flew 209.2km from the Grente with his Prion 3. Photos: Friedli, courtesy Nova FAI triangle record on an EN A paraglider!