The Jonker Sailplanes – Soaring Safaris Challenge

The Jonker Sailplanes – Soaring Safaris Challenge
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The improving soaring weather of August has seen some good flights recently, led by Potch pilots and flights from the wave camp at El Mirador.
On Monday 10th August Konrad Stark (ASW15), AP Kotze (Astir CS) and Jaco Burger (Club Astir) flew the same 350km triangle Potchefstroom – Litchenburg – Wolmaransstad - Potchefstroom, unfortunately not pre-declared so unable to claim for their Gold Distances and Diamond Goals. The maximum altitude was only 3800m with blue conditions and not so easy – AP got down to 700m agl at Wolmaransstad.
In the meantime there has been some interesting flying at El Mirador. On 8th August Jon Cross (Astir CS) flew south along the Drakensberg past Kwa Ntuba Pass and back north of Cathedral Peak. On 13th August Stan Kwiatkowski (Ventus) flew up to the Amphitheatre accumulating 263km under OLC yo-yo rules with only 2% time circling!
With three flights in eight days, Konrad Stark has leapt into the lead … but summer is on the horizon and some pilots have got their 500km flights planned. And there is another 89 days before the 2009 JS-SS Challenge finishes.
at 17-Aug-09 Flight 1 Flight 2 Flight 3 Total
1 Konrad Stark Akaflieg PUK - Potchefstroom 359.2 (10-Aug) 221.0 (08-Aug) 202.7 (15-Aug) 782.9
2 Jon Cross Magalies Gliding Club 225.2 (08-Aug) 240.2 (11-Jul) 201.1 (24-May) 666.5
3 AP Kotze Akaflieg PUK - Potchefstroom 366.7 (10-Aug) 274.0 (09-Aug) 640.6
4 Jaco Burger Akaflieg PUK - Potchefstroom 376.8 (10-Aug) 137.1 (29-Apr) 110.2 (11-Jul) 624.1
5 Manesté Fouché Akaflieg PUK - Potchefstroom 194.9 (15-Aug) 186.9 (04-Jul) 144.9 (25-Jul) 526.7
6 Justin Collins Howick Gliding Club 90.5 (09-Aug) 63.1 (10-Aug) 50.1 (08-Aug) 203.7
7 Stan Kwiatkowski Magalies Gliding Club 143.0 (13-Aug) 143.0
8 Tex Impey Howick Gliding Club 69.6 (09-Aug) 53.1 (10-Aug) 122.7
9 Nick Meijer Magalies Gliding Club 95.8 (23-May) 95.8
10 Bruce Greeff Magalies Gliding Club 31.0 (19-Jul) 31.0
Just as a reminder of the prize and the rules …
The Prize:
• One week flying an LS4 or similar glider with Soaring Safaris (dates to be agreed)
• Seven aerotows
• Task planning, post-flight analysis and cross-country coaching
• Free camping at New Tempe Airfield
Rules:
1. Scoring is based on the OLC system and handicaps, limited to out & returns and triangles.
2. Flights have to be registered and validated on OLC.
3. A pilot’s total score for the JS-SS Challenge is the sum of the pilot’s three best flights.
4. Minimum qualifying score is 600 points.
5. Eligibility: pilots who have not achieved a top three placing at a National contest, or who have not previously
won the JS-SS Challenge, or have not completed a declared 500km task.
6. Pilots must be paid up members of SSSA with a valid GPL and aerotow rating.
7. Closing date for flights: 15 November 2009.
8. That’s enough rules ....
Iain Baker is downloading flight logs from the OLC website, and re-scoring the flights from OLC rules to out &
returns/triangles. Pilots should confirm their eligibility by emailing him directly at iainzbaker@googlemail.com.

Life is not only gliding ....

... er.. certainly not. For a different view on life (this from the FAI web-site)

The 25th FAI World Aerobatic Championship live on Internet
FAI media partner Flying Aces Ltd today confirmed that the Internet sports TV channel airsports.tv would host exclusive live online coverage of the 25th FAI World Aerobatic Championship on 28 and 29 August 2009.
This will be the first time that live broadcast of the FAI World Aerobatic Championship will be available online.
Jointly organised by Flying Aces Ltd, the British Aerobatic Association (BAeA) and Silverstone Circuits, the 25th FAI World Aerobatic Championship will be held in Silverstone (GBR) from 19 to 29 August 2009. Detailed information on the Championship is available on the official website at www.wac2009.com.

Broadcast timesThe online TV channel will be broadcasting live online with full running commentary for up to 6 hours each day from the Airsports.tv customised live events page (//airsports.tv/worldaerobaticchampionshiplive.asp) according to the following schedule :Friday 28 August : 10.00 - 16:00 UTCSaturday 29 August : 10:00 - 16:00 UTC)

Well, as Charlie Spratt used to say "see you at the airport"
EY

ANDY - you'r the man

It is not that easy to get Steve Thomas going! this from him late last night

"Andy - you're the man!!
Andy Davis won the HusBos Midland Regionals flying a Libelle loaned to him by Jon Meyer who came second in a DG505M Orion flying with Rachel Hine. Matt Davis came a well flown third in a Std Cirrus. Fourth was Paul Crabb and Fifth was David Booth.
Jerry Langrick, Director, thanked his team, the pilots and their crews for a safe and enjoyable competition."

I agree wholeheartedly

EY

TOTSIENS a South African video

Here (compliments of Iain Baker) is the link to "Totsiens" a video made by Francois Caffa of his recent adventures at New Tempe's Soaring Safari and Tswalu. ENJOY
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/zzsnake/video/xa1u5m_gliding-in-south-africa-with-soarin_sport
EY
PS Iain reminds me about the JS-Soaring Safaris challenge - he throws down the Gauntlet for the Cape pilots - he said

"I'll be sending out an update on the JS-SS Challenge as the Potch lads have done some decent flying and there are now four pilots around the 600 point mark. So now's the time for any CGC pilots to get some flights as the weather is improving and there's three months to go."

EY

This from Stephen
Sven,
Whilst Andy let the big DG edge him into 2nd on the day, he has increased his [provisional] overall from 103 to 129 points.
As fronts approach the north of the UK the Azores high may just stop inclement conditions in the task area tomorrow. It’s a fine balancing act at this time of year in this neck of the woods. (sp)Lasham may be ok but HusBos, being a little further north may not be so lucky …. But as Helmuth would be wont to say “every night the cards are shuffled”
A bientot
Steve
Well, yesterday, Andy placed third for a total of 14 points (Paul Crabb in 1st with 35 - must be the lowest one can score and still have a contest day). Andy is leading overall by 147 points with the last two days to go.

And in the British Standard class Leigh Wells is in 1st, with Ben Flewett in 2nd, Jay Rebbeck 3rd and dad Martin Wells in 4th, with Jez Hood 5th. In the Open class Pete Harvey is sandwiched between brothers Steve and Phill Jones - they also have 2 days to go.

EY

Day 3 (again) at HB

this just in from Steve

"John Castle says “Start line opened at 12.18pm. Max start height 3000ft QFE”
314.1km race.

Will our boy, Andy do it agin?
See: http://www.soaringspot.com/regionals2009/results/mixed/task/day3.html for detailed task information

Stephen Thomas

NOT so quick

Not so quick, there are other BIG contests on the go: this from Steve (who wants to know whether Andy is flying a 201 or a 301 (my guess - 201, but if anyone knows, please tell us)

..and the other big contest on is the Standard and Open Class UK Nationals at (sp)Lasham. 2 out of three days so far – today looks a nice day today [from here] with early cumulus streaming off the Cwmbran Edge see http://nationals.lasham.org.uk/current-day.xml for more
And the Persids tonight!!
Cheers
Steve

and all news is not so good - http://www.rietigliding.it/
where Ritz is reporting on the missing 29E

EY

that man (again)

Meanwhile at the Husband Bosworth Regionals one Andy Davis has won both contest days in a LIBELLE. Just shows how versatile he is. There must be lesson in there, perhaps you don't always need a JS1 to win ... perhaps you just need to be very very good pilot (nice to know that you also have the JS1).
The only other two big contests running at the moment are the Pre-worlds in Slovakia and the CIM in Rieti (where they don't seem to be inhibited by the prognosticated airspace restrictions around Aquila). So wish i could have been there ....
EY

Stephen Thomas reporting ...

Sven,
The word on the street here is the whole country might be doing 750s [or better] today It looks superb outside in our neck of the woods.
The Std and Open Nats and Lasham regionals start tomorrow in Lasham. Can’t believe that it was 34 years ago I took my venerable K6e to do battle in the regionals – back then the K6e was standard class.
Best regards
Steve
Makes me think back to a summer a long time ago at Vryburg in a K6b ;-)