11/11/2026 - BONA BONA, SOUTH AFRICA - The momentum in the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of South Africa has officially shifted. Delivering yet another masterclass in high-speed, aggressive cross-country racing, local favorite Uys Jonker stormed to his second consecutive victory in Race 4. Surfing an exceptional energy line across the unforgiving South African highveld, Jonker dominated a blisteringly fast 371 km task to secure maximum points and rocket into a tie for second place in the overall championship standings.
With the leaderboard now compressed and the margin for error effectively erased, the stage is perfectly set for a blockbuster conclusion to the Bona Bona campaign.
Task Setting and Grid Strategy: A Highveld Classic
Following a detailed weather briefing that promised booming thermal activity and high cloud bases, the SGP task-setters laid out an ambitious, sprawling 371 km route. Designed to test the fleet's ability to maintain high average speeds over long glides, the task guided the pilots from the Bona Bona start line northeast to Viljoenskroon (TP1), then a sharp leg northwest to Hartbeesfont (TP2).
From there, the routing forced the pilots back through Bona Bona (TP3) before pushing them out on a deep southern loop via Ancona (TP4), Makwassie (TP5), and the final NewCSouth reporting point ahead of the finish line sprint. Take-off operations commenced precisely at 12:00 local time.
However, the complexion of the race changed before the gliders even took to the sky. Noticeably absent from the grid were two of the fiercest local competitors, Oscar Goudriaan and Laurens Goudriaan, both of whom registered as Did Not Compete (DNC) for the day, alongside Sven Olivier. This absence blew the daily points allocation wide open, giving the trailing international pack a critical opportunity to make up ground.
A Relentless South African Sweep
Once the start line opened, Race 4 rapidly developed into a relentless, high-velocity drag race that overwhelmingly favored the local South African contingent. Relying on intimate knowledge of the terrain and supreme confidence in the JS3 TJ's high-speed polar, Uys Jonker maintained an extraordinary average speed of 162.4 km/h over the two-hour and seventeen-minute flight. He crossed the line first to claim the full 10 points, proving that his Race 3 victory was no fluke.
The pursuit behind him was equally fierce, resulting in an all-South African podium. Rene Lans piloted his JS3 RES to a hard-fought second place, crossing the line just 49 seconds behind Jonker at an average speed of 161.4 km/h (8 points). Phillip Jonker, flying the JS1 TJ, rounded out the top three, finishing just over a minute off the lead pace at 161.1 km/h to secure 7 valuable points.
Behind the leading trio, the international pilots pushed hard but struggled to match the blistering local pace without incurring penalties. German pilot Holger Karow put in a determined, aggressive flight but absorbed an 83-second penalty, which relegated him to fourth place (159.8 km/h, 6 points). Further down the order, Danish competitor Arne Boye-møller also fell foul of the regulations, receiving a heavy 116-second penalty to finish 14th on the day.
The Championship Math: A Pressure Cooker at the Top
Uys Jonker's back-to-back 10-point hauls have completely rewired the championship mathematics. His latest victory elevates him to 20 total points, placing him in a dead heat for second overall with Holger Karow, who has relied on gritty consistency to stay near the front.
At the very top of the table, Katrin Senne retains the coveted overall yellow jersey. Recognizing the immense pace of the local pilots, Senne flew a steady, tactical race to secure a 7th place finish (3 points) in Race 4, bumping her overall tally to 22 points.
Looking Ahead: The Heat is On for the Rest of the Week
As we cross the midpoint of the Bona Bona campaign, the narrative has fundamentally shifted. The SGP format—where only the first gliders across the line score meaningful points—forces pilots to take calculated risks. With just a two-point margin separating the top three pilots, conservative flying is no longer an option for anyone harboring championship ambitions.
What to watch for in the coming days:
The Yellow Jersey Defense: Katrin Senne has flown beautifully to build her lead, but she is now hunted by a surging Uys Jonker and a relentless Holger Karow. Expect her to adopt a strict covering strategy, sticking to her closest rivals like glue to neutralize their attacks.
The Return of the Goudriaans: If Oscar and Laurens return to the grid after their Race 4 absence, they will be flying with nothing to lose. A pilot with 17 points and zero pressure is often the most dangerous glider in the sky.
Highveld Dynamics: The weather over the North-West Province will ultimately dictate the play. If conditions continue to support 160 km/h average speeds, the advantage shifts to the heavily ballasted JS3s and JS1s of the local pilots. If the air softens and becomes technical, the European contingent will have their chance to strike back.
The next few days will demand peak physical stamina, flawless tactical execution, and nerves of steel. Stay tuned to the SGP channels for live tracking, unedited cockpit audio, and all the grid-walk action as the battle for Series 13 reaches its boiling point.
