09/11/2026 - BONA BONA, SOUTH AFRICA — Day 2 of the Sailplane Grand Prix at Bona Bona presented a grueling tactical crucible over the South African terrain. Following a zero-point opening day, Swiss pilot Yves Gerster delivered a masterclass in aggressive cross-country soaring, breaking away from the regatta fleet to win Race 2 by more than eight minutes on a demanding 261 km task.
Grid Build-Up and Tactical Conditions
Grid preparations began under warm, working conditions following a detailed weather briefing from Jason. The day's 261 km task was set across dynamic airspace out of Bona Bona, requiring pilots to balance high cruise speeds with careful thermal selection.
The launch sequence commenced on schedule at 13:00 local time, giving the fleet nearly two hours to stage and position for high-altitude starts. The start line officially opened at 14:50 SAST, unleashing the gliders in a dense tactical gaggle toward the first turnpoint.
To elevate the fan experience and broadcast reliability, SGP media operations deployed an additional ground telemetry receiver station for Race 2. The upgrade is not yet enough to provide uninterrupted live tracking but social media with Indya and the team really help to follow the racing from abroad, with Grid Walk and daily recaps!
A Grinding Day Over Bona Bona
The 261 km task quickly exposed subtle shifts in lift quality. Low working bands and broken thermal cores forced competitors to make critical routing choices early in the leg.
As atmospheric conditions cycled:
Competitors were repeatedly forced into low-altitude saves to keep their race alive.
Two gliders were forced to turn back early after failing to connect with reliable climb energy.
Several pilots struggled with thermal transitions along the turnpoint legs, ultimately failing to complete the full task.
While much of the pack flew conservatively to manage altitude margins, Yves Gerster took calculated tactical risks, breaking away into superior energy lines. Maintaining high average speed across the final legs, Gerster built a commanding lead that his pursuers could not match.
Gerster Claims Full Points; Podium Battle Settled by Seconds
Gerster crossed the finish line more than eight minutes clear of the field to secure the maximum 10 points. The victory marks a total reset of his week, bringing him right back into championship contention after a scoreless Race 1.
Behind Gerster, the battle for the remaining podium positions came down to a thrilling drag race over the line. Michael Pfennig edged out Holger Karow by just six seconds to claim second place (8 points), leaving Karow in third (7 points).
Race 2 Official Top Results
Overall Championship Standings
Katrin Senne retains the overall series lead with 15 points, holding a narrow one-point advantage over Holger Karow (14 points). With Gerster, Pfennig, and Goudriaan locked in a three-way deadlock at 10 points, the championship remains wide open heading into Race 3.
Stay tuned to discover the “Gliding Tonight” Show from Bona Bona!
