Lenticulars over the Cederberg indicating strong wind on day one.

14 December 2008 - Day 1

Task cancelled due to strong wind after a cold front passed through rapidly. See pics! Photos Ulf Arndt and Jacob Krynauw

15 December 2008 - Task 1

A task of 67.4 km was set:

0.0 km DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

2.5 km ESELSFONTEIN LAUNCH (HG)

23.0 km PIETERSKLIP FARM : LONG SHED

35.8 km EENDEKUIL : GOAL FIELD

46.6 km MAIN ROAD NEER OU KRAAL OPPOSIT SKERPHEUWEL

67.4 km T JUNCTION PALEISHEUWEL (GOAL)

First in goal was Andre Rainsford-Alberts, (Mac Magus 6) with Fourie Grobler (Axis Mercury) second and Abraham Meyer (Mac Magus 5) third. The day went smoothly without any major incidents. For other results see the provisional scores page. Below are some pics of the action on day two. Photos Lothar Untermann and Sebastien Coupy.

Photos by Sébastien Coupy (Reunion), Lothar Untermann and Brad Kruger

16 December 2008 - Task2

T.O. DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

1. 16.7 km Pools - R365 tjunction

2. 41.0 km CITRUSDAL : PACKING SHEDS

GOAL 57.8 km CONSTRICTION RUGBY FIELD

Report by Christianio Pereira (Portugal)

Take off proved easy light just light wind and lots of thermals around. Initially there was an inversion keeping us from going up over 1200m,
which formed a couple of gaggles, one to the North of take-off, and another just South.

Flying out to start we met heavy sink sending several pilots to land early a few km from the first turn point. At the
first turn point that inversion had broken and thermals now went to 1600m.

All pilots flew directly back to the ridge and then followed it, a few others flew over the ridge and back into Citrus Val. East of the
river thermals where working nicely with over 6m/s rates of climb, the wind was favourable blowing northwards towards the goal, making it fairly easy to get to goal.

First in goal Maryna Storie, (MAC Magus), second Jo Engels, (SKY Eris) and third Abraham Meyer, (MAC Magus 5).

17 December 2008 - Task 3

T.O. DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

1. 9.5 km CARDOUW FARM : HOUSE (RED ROOF)

2. 18.3 km PIETERSKLIP FARM : LONG SHED

3. 31.1 km EENDEKUIL :GOAL FIELD

4. 41.3 km OUKRAAL : FARM HOUSE

5. 45.1 km T JUNCTION opssite skerphewule

GOAL 54.5 km RHENOSTERHOEK : GOAL FIELD

Report by Christianio Pereira (Portugal)

Today's conditions where excellent, although pilots where a little reluctant to take off at the window open the thermals where pumping
well, taking us up to 1200m. As the day progressed the lower inversion dissipated giving us a 1700m climb by the time we where over the second turn point in the valley. Unfortunately on the way to the 3rd turn point, yesterday's task winner, Maryna, got caught by a dusty 50m off the deck and went into a flat spin with a subsequent crash, she sustained a broken ankle and lower back injury, fortunately there was a
quick reply from the organizers and friends that where nearby. Flying to the last turn point we were confronted with some head wind, but after this the rest of the flight into goal proved fairly easy with good thermals and nice tail wind many pilots arrived at huge altitudes.

First: André Rainsford-Alberts, (Mac Magus 6), Second: Stephane Drouin, (Mac Magus 6), Third: Russell Achterberg, (Aircross U4)

Pics by Sebastien Coupy from Reunion

18 December 2008 - Task 4

T.O. 0.0 km DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

1. 11.6 km VODACOM TOWER, PORTERVILLE

2. 15.9 km KLEIN ELSBOS : FARM SHED

3. 19.8 km MONTE CHRISTO : FARM HOUSE

4. 30.3 km DRIVEWAY EAST SIDE R365

5. 41.3 km CARDOUW FARM : HOUSE (RED ROOF)

GOAL 52.2 km INTERSECTION : R365 / BUMPY TURN-OFF

Report by Cristiano Pereira who clinched 10th place.

Another wonderful day for flying in Porterville, thermals started working particularly early today. Before the open of start, at 12:30, thermals where taking us up to 2000m ASL. The first turn point was perfectly set to the south as winds where coming from the north. Some pilots had to come back after thermaling into the start cylinder. The second point in the valley was fairly easy as we had sufficient altitude and when flying back to the ridge we where blessed by favourable winds. Finally flying into goal, although against wind, there where huge thermals giving us a +7m/s on full speed bar, thus most pilots arrived at goal at incredible altitudes. It was an amazingly fast task with 36 pilots in goal.

1. DROUIN, STEPHANE, MAC Magus 6
2. RAINSFORD-ALBERTS, ANDRé, MAC Magus 6
3. DUNCAN, JONATHAN, AIRCROSS U3

Thank you to Sebastien Coupy for the in-flight photographs.

19 December 2008 - Task 5

T.O. DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

1. 9.5 km CARDOUW FARM : HOUSE (RED ROOF)

2. 24.5 km INTERSECTION : R365 / N7

3. 33.3 km PIETERSKLIP FARM : LONG SHED

4. 40.1 km NOORDHOEK : FARM HOUSE (AMONG TREES)

GOAL 54.4 km CITRUSDAL : RUGBY FIELD 2

Pilots where not too confident on the day, and that is why many waited around while the window was open. Finally launching while the launch area was shaded by high clouds. These high clouds actually caused very smooth but relatively strong thermals before the start. The first leg after the start turn point took us into the valley against a not so strong wind and good thermals along the way, after that turn point flying back to the ridge proved easy although with relatively strong sink, which made us get low just short of the ridge. At the hill called “bumpy” good strong thermals where available, getting us easily over the back into the Citrusdall valley. The last turn point before goal was done with ease but flying up to goal we where met by some fairly strong side wind. Making the last 6 km a difficult task.

1. SMITH, Andrew, MAC Magus 6
2. VAN DIJK, Pascal, GIN Boomerang 5
3. MEYER, Abe, MAC Magus 5

20 December 2008 - Task 6

T. O. 0.0 km DASKLIP LAUNCH (PG)

1. 18.1 km PIETERSKLIP FARM : LONG SHED

2. 26.9 km INTERSECTION : R365 / N7

3. 35.7 km SORGVLIET : SHED

4. 45.3 km T JUNCTION opssite skerphewule

GOAL 54.7 km RHENOSTERHOEK : GOAL FIELD

Result task 6:

1. HULETT, Nevil, MAC Magus 6

2. DUNCAN, Jono, AIRCROSS U3

3. JANSEN VAN RENSBURG, Rudolf, MAC Magus 6