SAFA Skysailor Magazine

17 May | June 2023 SKY SAILOR consolidated into a huge one that worked well in the difficult conditions. Pilots who got stranded on their own had a difficult time working in the broken thermals. As the day progressed, the SE sea-breeze picked up, adding more difficulty. Still, 97 pilots made it to goal with the majority arriving soon after the leader. Top 3 in the task: 1st Rafael Barros, 2nd Honorin Hamard and 3rd Baptiste Lambert. Top 3 women: 1st Marcella Uchoa, 2nd Meryl Delferriere and 3rd Violeta Jimenez. Task 5 – 24/3/2023 An 85km route was set. The task got off to a slow start with weak conditions but a reasonably high base. On the way to the first TP, pilots discovered the day was improving with some good lift. As they tagged the first waypoint and turned 180º, the pace sped up. After TP2 and another 180º turn, pilots got low for the first time and lost time in some slowish thermals. They then passed over to the west side of Castelo, over some industrial areas, and reconnected with proper lift before the long SW leg to the last TP before end of speed. Lots of route choices in this part of the course allowed some pilots to get ahead and high. As they approached the last TP, lift was scarce as the tactical game to ESS started. One group went over the mountains on the right and got to goal first, another took a slightly slower route over the flats. Lift was generous on final glide so all arrived in goal sky high, 99 in all – a great race in loving memory of Dan Morand. Top 3 in the task: 1st Honorin Hamard, 2nd Baptiste Lambert and 3rd Caio Buzzarello. Top 3 women: 1st Galen Kirkpatrick, 2nd Meryl Delferriere and 3rd Violeta Jimenez. Task 4 – 22/3/2023 An 80km race south into the flats, then back north past Castelo and finally SW to goal at Jernoimo Monterio. The start required pilots to wait on the far side of the valley and race back past launch to follow a series of ridges to TP1. The conditions slowed and became very sticky. The gaggle Castelo’s granite domes Photo: Ulric Jessop