12/11/2026 - BONA BONA, SOUTH AFRICA - As the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of South Africa nears its thrilling conclusion, the margins at the top of the leaderboard have practically vanished. With only two points separating the top three pilots at launch, Race 5 demanded flawless tactical execution across a grueling 474.8 km highveld marathon.
Delivering a fantastic final-glide, local pilot Riaan Denner claimed a spectacular home victory, capturing the full 10 points and blowing the overall championship race wide open.
A True Test of Highveld Endurance
The task-setters laid out the most ambitious route of the week: a very long 474.8 km, five-leg circuit. Launching from NewCNorth, the fleet was routed northwest to Rooigrond (TP1) and Madibogo (TP2), before a long tactical leg southeast to Britten (TP3), down to NewCSouth (TP4), and finally sprinting home to Bona Bona. Stay seated if you haven’t seen this information yet: the ceiling was so high that the Maximum Start Altitude was set at 4500 meters! Absolutely phenomenal.
Unlike the pure velocity-driven drag races earlier in the week, the average climb rates clustering between 2.4 and 2.9 m/s across the fleet, the day punished impatience. Pilots who pushed too hard early found themselves digging out of low saves, while those who synchronized with the energy lines conserved vital altitude for the latter half of the race. And with those ceiling, you could have hoped for even better climbs… that’s why being patient was a difficult task for most pilots, always hoping the next cloud to be the best climb of the day.
The Decisive Final Legs
The true separation occurred over the final two legs. Leaving Britten on Leg 4, the field began to fragment, but it was the final 34 km sprint from NewCSouth to Bona Bona where the race was won and lost.
Flying his JS3, Denner (IG) found an extraordinary line of energy on the final glide. While the slowest finishers struggled home at 175 km/h, Denner accelerated to a blistering 273.3 km/h across the final leg. That devastating closing speed allowed him to stop the clock at 03:10:57, securing the day's victory with an average speed of 148.9 km/h.
Behind him, the battle for the podium was decided by mere seconds. German pilot Björn Gintzel (JS3 - RT) flew a brilliantly calculated race to cross the line just 21 seconds behind Denner, taking second place at 148.6 km/h to earn 8 points. Holger Karow continued his remarkably consistent week, securing third place (+0:35) at 148.4 km/h.
Uys Jonker matched Karow's raw pace but suffered a costly 26-second penalty, relegating him to fourth place (6 points).
Championship Shake-Up: Karow Seizes the Yellow Jersey
Race 5 fundamentally altered the Bona Bona landscape. Overnight leader Katrin Senne struggled to match the pace of the leading gaggle, finishing 10th on the day to score zero points. Her stall at 22 overall points opened the door for the chasing pack.
With his third-place finish, former SGP World Champion (Series 7) Holger Karow has seized the overall championship lead with 27 points. He is immediately trailed by a relentless Uys Jonker, who sits just one point behind at 26 points. Riaan Denner’s glorious home victory rockets him up to 19 points, putting him firmly in the hunt for an overall podium finish.
Race 5 Official Results
Overall Championship Standings
Looking Ahead: The Pressure Cooker of Race 6
As we approach the end of the competition week, the physical and mental toll of a 474 km marathon will undoubtedly play a factor in Race 6. The pilots are ready, the equipment is being pushed to the limit, and the psychological warfare on the grid is reaching its peak.
Key Storylines to Watch in Race 6:
The Duel at the Top: Holger Karow (27 pts) and Uys Jonker (26 pts) are effectively tied. Karow will likely try to cover Jonker aggressively, forcing the South African to take the risks if he wants to win the day.
Senne's Counterattack: Katrin Senne (22 pts) is down but far from out. Known for her tactical brilliance, she must strike back immediately. Expect her to take divergent lines if the main gaggle slows down.
The Local Dark Horses: With Riaan Denner (19 pts) and Phillip Jonker (17 pts) surging late in the week, the South African contingent has the numbers and the local knowledge to control the pacing of the peloton.
With zero margin for error remaining, Race 6 promises to be a spectacular display of high-stakes soaring. Tune in live on SGP.AERO social media to follow the racing!
