A Promise Kept: Thierry Boilley Leads an All-French Podium in Race 5
03/09/2026 - Vinon, France - The FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of France delivered another masterclass in tactical mountain flying today as the fleet launched into Race 5. Following a bold promise made the day prior, local pilot Thierry Boilley flew a brilliant strategic race to capture his first daily victory of the competition, leading a spectacular all-French podium at Vinon.
The Task and Tactical Skies
Race 5 challenged the pilots with a 250-kilometre task that offered a complex mix of lift sources, demanding constant strategic adaptation. The skies presented a beautiful but divided playing field: a helpful convergence line and cumulus clouds marked the lift east of Vinon near Fayence, while the rest of the course devolved into a tactical battle in blue thermals with ceilings reaching up to 2,700m.
Start: Gréoux-les-Bains
Turnpoints: Barrême (TP1) → Laragne (TP2) → Morgon (TP3)
Report Point: Report 20
Finish: Vinon
During our live Grid Walk ahead of the 14:00 LT take-off, pre-race pilot discussions were dominated by the crucial route choice between Barrême and Laragne. The decision of whether to push north or south into the blue conditions ultimately defined the race.
Boilley Delivers on His Word
"Tomorrow, I will fly better." That was Thierry Boilley's promise to the fans following Race 4, and he certainly delivered.
When the regatta start line opened at 15:00 LT, Boilley pushed his JS3 into the Alpine air with total conviction. Expertly navigating the transitions between the convergence lines and the unpredictable blue thermals, Boilley crossed the finish line in 02:08:15. His impressive average speed of 116.9 km/h secured the top spot on the podium for the day.
The racing behind Boilley remained incredibly tight. Jean-Denis Barrois finished a strong second, arriving just 1 minute and 21 seconds behind the leader. Didier Hauss crossed the line only 33 seconds after Barrois (+01:54 from the lead) to complete a triumphant all-French podium for Race 5.
The Overall Championship Tightens
Today's results have sent shockwaves through the overall standings, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the competition week. The battle for the championship is now closer than ever:
1st Place Overall: Mario Kiessling — 35 points
2nd Place Overall: Didier Hauss — 33 points
3rd Place Overall: Jean-Denis Barrois — 25 points
With only two points separating Mario Kiessling and Didier Hauss, every tactical decision in the coming days will carry championship weight.
Congratulations to Thierry Boilley for a phenomenal flight, and to Jean-Denis Barrois and Didier Hauss for rounding out today's podium. We captured the speed, precision, and pure energy of today’s high-speed finish from every angle, so be sure to check out the highlights on our social channels.
Tune in tomorrow at sgp.aero/live to watch the championship battle continue! Watch out, there will not be a livestreaming tomorrow, only 2D/3D tracking via sgp.onglide.com ! We will be back on Saturday for the final race with our last livestreaming in Vinon.
