SAFA Skysailor Magazine

15 May | June 2023 SKY SAILOR the second TP near launch, they encountered the first crux – a large area of shade cast by the spreading cu-nimb nearby. The pace slowed as everyone sought to conserve height to tag the TP and make it back into the sun. Then back under blue skies for the long leg to the final TP in the south-west. Good climbs and long tailwind glides sped things up notice- ably. Unfortunately for some, this was another crux as those pushing low to goal encountered a substantial sea-breeze front, putting them on the ground short of goal. Those higher up, above the sea-breeze, did well in lift all the way to end of speed. A great start to what should hopefully be a fantastic week of racing! What a well-called task, with 94 pilots in goal, keeping the race track away from the numer- ous rainstorms in the local area. Well done our task committee of Richard Pethigal, Michael Sigel and Idris Birch. Top three in the task: 1st Filipe Marques, 2nd Yassen Savov and 3rd Pal Takats. Best newcomer, 4th Antoine Dubois-Mercé. Top three women: 1st Meryl Delferriere, 2nd Nanda Walliser and 3rd Marcella Uchoa. Task 2 – 20/3/2023 An 88km task took pilots deeper into the mountains than before, giving spectacular vistas of the granite domes. The four TP route went past Estrela do Norte and Burarama, massive rocks with overhanging faces, famous for base jumping. The task was super fast to begin as pilots easily took the first two TPs, pinging into space as though attached to bungee cords. It was very much a task in two halves. As pilots approached TP3, the air became stable due to the sea-breeze, weakening thermals, making for difficult climbs in the big blue. Gears changed down as climbs had to be found and worked before moving on again. Large gaggles began to break up. From TP3 to TP4 two routes emerged, one more south another a bit more north. Still in the big blue hole, gaggles climbed a bit, then push on, convinced a better glide was out there. The field was very split, and those a bit more south had a better line into TP4. Just before the last TP, conditions improved. The glide into end of speed was a bit more forgiving and generous than previous glides, with more buoyant air allowing the pilots to float along with climbs everywhere. Then came the descent into the sauna again, with temperatures of 37ºC reported on the ground! The first 105 pilots made goal. Top 3 in the task: 1st Honorin Hamard, 2nd Yassen Savov and 3rd Michel Cervellin (Newcomer). Top 3 women: 1st Galen Kirkpatrick, 2nd Violeta Jimenez and 3rd Nanda Walliser. Photos: Ulric Jessop