SAFA Skysailor Magazine

11 May | June 2024 SKY SAILOR All photos: On the ground – Godfrey Wenness, in the air – Andrew Bucknill, Joshie Tie and Brandon O’Donnell Best female, Stefanie Becker, was in fifth place overall with an excellent 94km flight towards Armidale, showing she is on the hunt for the overall rankings in the event, not just the women’s section. Best Fun class pilot, Paul Macdonald, scored 37km and was in 28th place overall. 1. Hammill, Sean, AUS Niviuk Ikuma 2, SPORT 117.0 2. Braithwaite, Ben, AUS Flow Fusion, SPORT 98.6 3. O’Donnell, Brandon, AUS Advance Sigma 10, XC 95.0 4. Becker, Stefanie, (F) AUS Ozone Swift 6, SPORT 94.2 5. Moore, Colin, AUS Ozone Alpina 4, SPORT 86.7 6. Golus, Che, AUS Ozone, COMP 80.96 28. Macdonald, Paul, AUS Advance Epsilon 10 DLS, FUN 37.3 Day 2 – 21 January: 96km towards Uralla The high air humidity predicted the sky would be filled with quickly growing cumulus clouds, some which might overdevelop, resulting in a shower of rain, while others decayed as fast as they grew. The NW wind was initially too strong in the morning, but easing and tending westerly around midday to allow launching from Mt Borah West. Many pilots enjoyed some spectacular cloud formation flying and strong lift to around 2900m later in the day, as they headed east towards the tablelands with a good tailwind. However, more stable air drifted in from the west, blueing the day out in the late afternoon, and resulting in the lift becoming very light and difficult to find. The leaders, who were well onto the tablelands by then, only found scratchy climbs as the day wound down. Best distance was 96km by XC Class pilot Jason Turner (Qld) with many pilots landing close behind. Best female was once again Stephanie Becker, in 3rd place overall and best in Sports Class at 83km. Gavin Milne of Armidale came a step closer to fulfilling his dream of ‘flying home’ with his 45km flight to win Fun class (22nd overall). 1. Turner, Jason, AUS Nivuik Artik R, XC 96 2. Davies, Harry, AUS Drift Merlin, XC 85 3. Becker, Stefanie, AUS Ozone Swift 6, SPORT 83 5. Schmeck, Ulrich, GER Ozone Zeno2, COMP 77 22. Milne, Gavin, AUS Advance Epsilon 10 DLS, FUN 45