8th Day of the Sailplane Grand Prix Poland

Waiting for so long, we managed to run the task at last :-) Despite towering Cu and rain in the South, moving in our direction, competitors willingly apperaed on the briefing. Task setter gave them 203,8km task with 4 TPs Babia Góra, Turbacz, Szyndzielnia and Międzybrodzie Bialskie.

 

We had a possibility to watch competitors struggles, using Online Tracking, the system prepared by pilots from Cracow. Mr Tomasz Kawa was gorgeously commenting pilots' situations. After reaching the first turning point- Babia Góra, competitors were separated from Turbacz- its peak was in the storm clouds. Seeing no chance to reach it, most gliders landed in Nowy Targ's airfield, others- in the neighbourhood of the mountain. Only Sebastian Kawa and Łukasz Błaszczyk managed to survive, and, when clouds and the strom moved out of Turbacz, they reached that point and started to fly towards Babia Góra. Then Łukasz, having low altitude, had to land out. Sebastian stayed alone. He passed Babia Góra massif and was trying to move in Żar's direction. But the next strom was separating him from the airfield. Meanwhile, strong wing and rain came here. Visibility got lower. After a while we managed to see the shape of Jantar crossing our aera... We were so worried about his safely landing in those conditions... And what has he done? He flew over Międzybrodzie Bialskie, then over Bielsko Biała and Szyndzielnia. He reached the Szyndzielnia Turning Point, setting in amazement everybody. Then he circled over Bielsko Biała again and we saw him over the airfield for few minutes. We were sure that he had resing and that he wouldn't cross the finish line in the rain and strong wind. Meanwhile, he reported the finish line at 15.46LT and... made an excellent low pass of the victory to finish his flight... When his landing gear touched the ground, we could hear an aplause in the cafe.

Then a short ceremony took place and Sebastian told us something more about this amazing fight.

Other competitors unfortunately returned with gliders in the trailers.

Thanks Sebastian, today's task has been completed and spectators had a great chance to experience sports spirit...

Contratulations and thank you Sebastian for the flight :-)