SAFA Skysailor Magazine

19 WINTER 2025 | June-July-August SKY SAILOR When I landed at goal I saw Guy running over. I braced for the grilling and started formulating my apology. Boy, was I sur- prised when the first thing he said was, “Mate… You’re the first Aussie in goal!” The fifth task We’d walked into the task briefing on day five expecting a significantly longer task, initially heading into the higher mountains to the north-west of launch, since the task had already been sent out on WhatsApp in the morning. Unfortunately, there had been a number of landing incidents on the previous day when we had headed in this direction with relatively strong winds. Safety concerns were raised, and even- tually the task was shortened to a 77km zig-zag around the Tremp Valley. Conditions around launch were signifi- cantly weaker than on previous days, with no one getting very high before the start. The launch marshal closed launch for long periods of time due to crosswinds from the left, and at one stage due to too a large gaggle scratching right in front of launch. I finally took off at 15:05, and after finding nothing along the top ridge, I ended up scratching away from the bottom ridge. It was an ‘entry’ start with an 18km radius. This entry radius was several kilometres behind launch, but further upwind to the east, the radius was right on the main ridge: Two gaggles formed, one closer to launch, and I was in the one well upwind to the east. Being in the upwind gaggle and inside the start circle meant of course that you had to ensure you exited the start circle prior to making your entry start.