PWC Monte Cornizzolo - Italy

20-25 April 1999

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Serial class podium	1st : Rob Whittall  (GB) 2nd : Henrik Jensen  (DEN) 3rd : Bruce Goldsmith  (GB)
Women podium	1st : Sandie Cochepain   (F) 2nd : Claire Bernier  (F) 3rd : Carolyn Lansdell  (CH)
Overall podium	1st : Kari Eisenhut   (CH) 2nd : Steve Cox  (CH) 3rd : Peter Von KŠnel  (CH)

Here are the final results :

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See comments and photos of the competition :

• Task 1

• Task 2

• Task 3

• Task 4

Final task, Cornizzolo.

On our last day the weather cooperated a little more than on other days, but still with a high risk of storms and with the need to have an earlier landing time due to the prize giving.   A short race to goal with a ground start was chosen, using the penultimate turnpoint in the flatlands and the final turnpoint, some 9km east of the goal in Suello. Whilst on the first transition from take off there were already large congestus clouds back in the mountains.  The flatland turnpoint was the same as other days, and today unlike previously , the majority of pilots chose to fly back to the launch rather than taking the more direct route across the flatlands.   The latter was a viable option and worked well, although since only about 15 pilots took that route, the going was slower. 

First pilot in was Kaspar Henny followed by a continual stream of pilots - infact the whole field arrived at goal with the exception of just 13 unlucky pilots.   An hour  after the last landing at 3pm, the rain and storms started, and at the moment we are awaiting final complaints and protests for this final task.

If no changes are made then the overall winner of the Cornizzolo pwc is Kari Eisenhut, followed just 4 points behind by Steve Cox.  In third place is Peter Von Kanel.   Amongst the women, 1st to 3rd are Sandie Cochepain, Claire Bernier and Carolyn Lansdell.

In the Serial Class we have 1st Robbie Whittal, 2nd Henrik Jensen and Third Bruce Goldsmith.

Congratulation must go to the organiser , the club Scurbatt, who have run a superb event in every aspect.    

Task 3 pwc Cornizzolo

• Serial class results
• Open class results

After a days rest due to very unstable conditions and storms on the 23^rd, today we were able to fly an interesting 34km task, with an early take off and last landing to complete a race before the expected storms.

Another ground start with the 1^st turnpoint at Valcavia. On the way out most pilots followed the same route. Conditions being unstable, allowed most pilots to successfully complete the first two valley transitions towards the turnpoint. Amongst the first at the turnpoint were Xevi Bonet and Jimmy Pacher. The lead gaggle took a more direct route back than the rest of the field, who used the same conical mountain a a stepping stone as on the way out. Xevi and Jimmy took the slower more certain route, and pushing hard to catch up, Jimmy landed a few meters short of the goal line.

First into goal in was Christian Tamegger 1 hr and 14 minutes after the start, closely followed by Steve Cox and Kari Eisenhut a little over a minute later. First in with a serial class glider in 1hr and 32 minutes and overall 38^th place, was Robbie Whittal, crossing the line with only meters to spare after negociating a path through the trees at the head of the goal field. First woman in was Claire Bernier in 1hr 33 mins in 42^nd place.

    
Christian Tamegger

Task 2 pwc Cornizzolo

• Serial class results
• Open class results

Today on arriving at goal it looked as if no task was going to be possible, with the clouds forming well below the mountain and a gentle back wind. A gradual improvement occured, but because of the high risk of storms a short 32 km task was chosen: a triangle with the major part in the flatlands.

A ground start race, the first time for some while that we have used this – now more often possible since we have less pilots competing in each event. With only about 200 meters height above take off and at cloud base, the field flew to the west for the 1st turnpoint the other side of Erba. Although many got low, most managed to get back up, and get the first turnpoint. The decision was then to either go direct across the flatlands to the final turnpoint, some 10kms north of the goal at Suello, or to go back via the take off using the mountain route. In the previous pwc here in 97 many of the lead gaggle chose the latter route, only to find themselves to be later in goal and well behind those who risked the flatland route. On this occation, perhaps learning from 97, the whole field flew direct across the flatlands, although this time with a cloud base significantly lower. Amongst the lead gaggle at the last turnpoint , Tibor Berki was the highest and the first to go on the glide to goal, arriving with a time of 1hr 23 mins. Knowing that during the task in 97 the glide was very generally bouyant, he chose to ignore a number of thermals along the way and was first to cross the line, closely followed by Hans Bollinger and Kari Eisenhut.

First in the serial class was John Pendry in position 29 with a time of 1hr.33 mins. First amongst the women was Sandy Cochepan in the overall postion 34 arriving with a time of 1 hr and 37 mins.

Task 1 pwc Cornizzolo

• Serial class results
• Open class results

On the first day at cornizzolo a very succesfull 67 km task with 62 pilots in goal. The task stared with a risk of frontal cirrus comming in from the west and cutting out much of the sunlight. The first turnpoint to the west at the lighthouse at Brunate, overlooking Como, took the pilots towards the incomming shadow and many considered the task a little ambitious. On the first transition over the town of Erba a few unfortunate pilots finished their flight, although those climbing on the other side had a good cloud street all the way to the turnpoint and back, the most difficult part of the flight being keeping warm in the freezing conditions near cloudbase. Even in the shadowy conditions the strongly unstable conditions good punchy thermals.

The next turnpoint some 30 kms to the east at Valcavia gave the choice of the traditional mountain route or some short cuts across the flatlands. Robbie Whittal, first pilot into goal in the serial class chose the latter giving himself a lead over many of the other competitors choosing the mountain route, traditionally quicker, but with more cloud shadow.

The first into goal at Suello, by a large margin, was Roberto Marchetti, the Italian pilots from Rome with his first pwc task victory. In joint second place were Steve Cox and Kari Eisenhut on their Advance prototypes. Third in the open class was Matin Muller, and the first woman to arrive in 38th place was Carolyn Lansdell. In the serial class Robbie Whittal and John Pendry too 1st and 2nd aboard their new Ozone Protons(17th and 34th in the open class). Third place to the PWC General Secretary Yves Gouslain, aboard his serial Respone(45th in the open).

Robbie Whittall

Roberto Marchetti crossing the line

Roberto Marchetti at landing

For the 21st we have rain, with the forcast for a possible task on Thursday, with more certainty of Friday.