One Last Time in the Varese Skies: Race 5 Tests Patience and Precision
30/05/2026, Varese, Italy - The final racing day of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of Italy brought a mixture of quiet reflection, tactical patience, and beautiful flying. Coming to the end of a deeply emotional and challenging week, the grid assembled one last time under the Lombardy sky with a shared goal: to fly safely, compete with integrity, and honor the true spirit of the sport for our friend Jon.
With a highly stable airmass locked over the region in the morning, the organizers and pilots had to play a game of patience before the final task could get underway.
Patience Pays Off: The 133 km Foothill Sprint
The day’s task was designed as a compact 135km circuit keeping the fleet close to the familiar safety of the foothills. Navigating turnpoints through Lecco, Varese Arcisate, Brunate, and Gurone, the route required precise local knowledge and meticulous management of energy.
Recognizing that the atmosphere needed time to develop, Race Director pushed the scheduled 13:00 launch back, waiting for the optimal weather window to open. Patience paid off. By 14:00 CEST, the gliders were officially airborne, feeling out the airmass and getting into position. When the start line officially opened at 15:00, the blue skies offered just enough thermal activity to set the final tactical battle of the week in motion.
Michael Reiner Secures a Beautiful Victory
The final checkered flag in Varese belonged to Michael Reiner (MR), who delivered an incredibly smooth and efficient flight. Mastering the complex airmass along the foothills, Reiner read the developing conditions perfectly to cross the line first, clocking an average speed of 92.6 km/h to secure the final race victory of the week. It was a masterful flight to end a profoundly emotional and resilient week for the grid.
Behind him, the margins remained incredibly slim. Luka Žnidaršič (LZ) displayed brilliant glider placement, matching the pace of the frontrunners to cross just 1 minute and 47 seconds later, taking second place at 90.7 km/h. Steffen Schwarzer (L7) rounded out the top three, safely securing a podium finish for the race with a steady speed of 87.6 km/h.
Race 5 Results
Wheels Down on a Week We Will Never Forget
With the final gliders safely down on the tarmac at Varese, an emotional and unforgettable qualifying event draws to a close. This week asked everything of our pilots: testing their resilience, their skill, and their hearts. They returned to the skies for the pure love of the sport, and they flew beautifully to honor Jon.
Every single point earned this week was fought for in the truest spirit of the soaring community. The final calculators are running, the official penalties are being verified, and the final podium of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of Italy is locked in.
Stay tuned for our next update, where we will celebrate the final championship standings, look at the overall podium, and extend our formal thanks to everyone who made this return to flight possible.
