Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Task 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Class V at goal - Photo: Stephane Malbos/CIVL)

May the 24th… The day starts with very light rain and a not so good prognosis for cross-country flights. Tasks are set anyway, pilots' briefing delayed and finally launches open under marginal but better conditions. Everyone is sent north: Class I at 71,6 km; Class V at 87,4 km; Class II at 67,9 km and return. A over-developed cunimb is in the way and make the task trickier. A lot of pilots are at goal in Class II and V. The women again suffer: only Corinna ("I am lucky", she says) makes it to goal.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Rest Day 2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Quest airfield with set up gliders - Photo: Malbos/CIVL)

May the 23th… Again the weather was uncooperative and the day had to be called off. Time for rest, friendship… and a few explanations.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Rest Day 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Morning briefing for the volunteers - Photo: Malbos/CIVL)

May the 22rd… All pilots and volunteers met at the morning briefing. Tasks were called and cancelled around 2pm because of a persistent inversion layer making cross country flights from Quest improbable.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Task 4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Atos in flight - Photo: Tim Meaney)

May the 21th… A blue day. All pilots take off in a cloudless sky for, again, some challenging tasks. Women in Class I get a out and return leg to Dallas (FL, not TX!), 52,7 km away. Class V rigids have to fly a 158,7 km triangle. Class II has 221,8 km and 4 turnpoints to check. 5 out of 6 Swift make goal, and 80 % of the Class V pilots too. Class I again has a hard time, as the blue sky is followed by a veiled one.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Task 3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Impact in flight - Photo : Tim Meaney)

May the 20th… A perfect hot Florida spring day. The best conditions of the year, so far, announced at the pilots' briefing. Hardly any wind, so all pilots can land at Quest after a more or less square circuit. 127,6 km for Class I; 176,6 for Class II; 150,7 for Class V. The best of the year ended up being the best of the meet and the women, again, had a hard time completing the task. The rigids and Swift did better, with 60 and 100% at goal.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Task 2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(David Chauvet's Impact prototype taking off - Photo : Malbos/CIVL)

May the 19th… With stronger winds and elusive lift, Class I pilots delayed their take off time. It didn't help, and no women got to the goal set at 109 km. Class V was set for a 205,1 km crosswind leg to Florida Ridge, a record distance for some of the pilots. 33 got to goal. Class II flew again a back and forth task from and to Quest Air airfield. 174,9 km this time. Not an easy one, reported Manfred Ruhmer, the only pilot to complete the task.

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Class I (women), II, V World Championship, Task 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(photo : Malbos/CIVL)

May the 18th… With strong winds, the same task was set for Class I and V: 110,4 km downwind to River Ranch. Class II had to fly a 123,1 km out and return task from and to Quest Air airfield.

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Women Hang Gliding and Rigid Championships Are On!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(The first pilots' briefing - Photo : Malbos/CIVL)

In Groveland, Florida, USA, the Rigid and Women Hang gliding World Championships were declared opened on May the 17th at the sound of a Bluegrass band during a very laid back ceremony where cockatoos, alligators and… the pilots were the stars. Today, May the 18th, the first tasks will be flown: 123 km for Class II (Swift and others) gliders, 110 km for Class I (regular hang gliders) and Class V (Atos and other rigids).

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New Ranking Software Operative

From May the 23rd, the new ranking software is operative.

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For An Environmental Charter

Last February, during the Plenary in Lausanne, the issue of undertaking a statement on environmental matters was addressed. CIVL Environmental Affairs Working Group would like NACs and concerned persons to answer a few questions…

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