TASK 8

Results Task 8 here.
Updated Overall Results here.
Updated Team Results here.
Traks Task 8 here.

Well. well, well, this competition is getting more exciting everyday. I just hope the wheather also plays the game allowing pilots to compete until the very last!

Against a not so good weather forecast, pilots flew and they flew well. 38 of them in goal; the first one in at 17:04 and the last one at 19:38. The first pilots were quite fast with an average speed of 41-42 km/h and the last ones were very patient and persistent!!!!

And some other pilots just couldn't make it this time...

Luis Rizo Salom (FRA) was having a good run until he noticed his instrument had automatically jumped on to the next TP and that he had probably missed it so he turned around, went back to find the TP, made it and resumed his flight towards goal. Then he got low and got weak thermals, but did not give up and eventually came in much later than expected. While discussing with his TL (team leader) they weren't sure whether it was an instrument issue or if he had made the TP, which was pretty much on route to the next one, without noticing.... We shall take a look at his track to really know what happened. He wasn't really happy about it, but he DID finish the course!

On the overall, G.Heinrichs (AUT) who has been leading the comp all along, is being slowly approached by T.Weissenberger who also happens to be Austrian. Once again they have achieved to be in the fight for the top places at such important events...that is why they were once called "The Mighty Asutrians". On task 7 Weissenberger gained 140 points on Heinrichs and yesterday another 160 (that is 300 points in 2 days, wow!) and the gap is now down to only 128 points: anything could happen! If they get to fly these next days Gerlof could maintain his lead or lose it, or both could make mistakes and drop down. Pilots on positions 3, 4 and 5 are 50 points apart...so the game is open and we do not know how it will end!

On the team results GBR has moved back to 4th place and SUI taken the 3rd place (91 points difference). The Austrian advantage over the Italians of 230 points until task 7, has been cut back to 44 points after the great performance of the "Azurri" yesterday coming in 1st, 3rd and 4th for the day!

As you can see, the comp is quite exciting, isn't it? Let's hope they get their chance to fight until the end and enjoy the flying.

Keep the fingers crossed!!!

Carol Tobler (SUI) always happy
Ager - Port D'Ager - Estacio D'Ager - Castell D'Mur - Talarn - Isona - Abella - A01050 - Villamitjana

20:00 - Pilots at Goal

Jon Durand (AUS), Primoz (SLO), Thomas Weissenberger (AUT), Zin (FRA), Martin Harri (SUI), Gerolf Heinrichs (AUT), Mario Alonzi (FRA), Cataldi (ITA), Ciech (ITA), Balazs (HUN), Attila Bertok (HUN), Kavanagh (GBR), Voiblet (SUI), Gordon (GBR), Guiducci (ITA), Moroder (ITA), Blay Snr (ESP), Peternel (SLO), Corinna (GER), Wolfgang (AUT), Struganov (RUS), Dave Matthews (GBR), Barthelmes (GER), Dan Vyhnalik (CZE), Filippo Oppici (ITA), Grant (GBR), Kathleen (GBR), Cejka (CZE), Tom (BEL), Jochen (BEL), Julia Kucherenko (RUS), Marc Utrillo (ESP), Rizo (FRA), Pedro Garcia (ESP), Trimmel (AUT), Balog (HUN), Leuskov (RUS), Tucek (CZE)...

Tricky forecast and conditions today. The TC and MD went for a 78 kms task flying most of the time on the Ager Valley to make it better for people and not force pilots having to glide low for turnpoints. A "short" task due to the risk of thunderstorms later in the evening.