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Event info

The competition will be held over seven days between 24 April 2022 and 30 April 2022 with no rest days. The 23rd April 2022 will be a practice day and normal fees and indemnities apply.

Barberton is South Africa's premier winter flying site, as Porterville in the Western Cape is to the free-flying community for summer flying.

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Flying site

Barberton is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, which has its origin in the 1880s gold rush in the region. It is situated in the De Kaap Valley and is fringed by the Makhonjwa Mountains.

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  • 31 Pilots Confirmed
  • 31 Pilots total registered
  • 2500 ZAR Entry fee
Go to Pilot List
  • 50 Pilots max allowed
  • 1 Countries presented
  • ✅ All certified wings allowed
  • 🏆 FAI Status = CAT 2 🏅
  • left before start of event
  • Registration will open on
    25/02 17:18 (Africa/Johannesburg)

  • 🚁

    The region supports helicopter rescues

    Helicopter rescue
  • ⚕️

    There will be medical rescue services at launch

    Medic on takeoff
  • 📱

    The region generally has good phone coverage

    Good phone coverage
  • 📻

    We will be monitoring radios for your safety whilst you fly

    Radio coverage
  • 🚐

    There will be vehicles supplied to take you to launch

    Launch Transport
  • 🥾

    There will be retrieve vehicles available to return pilots to HQ

    Retrieve included
  • 💩

    There are toilets at, or near, the launch

    Toilets on takeoff
  • 🍺

    There will usually be goal beers for winners

    Goal beers
  • 🎉

    There will be an organised party during or after the event

    Party
  • 🎵

    There will be live music or a DJ at the event

    Live music
  • 👕

    You will receive a tshirt or other welcome gift

    Free gift

Prize funds and scoring categories

  • OVERALL
  • INTERMEDIATE
  • LADIES
  • NOVICE
  • SPORT
  • PERFORMANCE
  • TANDEM

Event info

The competition will be held over seven days between 24 April 2022 and 30 April 2022 with no rest days. The 23rd April 2022 will be a practice day and normal fees and indemnities apply.

Barberton is South Africa's premier winter flying site, as Porterville in the Western Cape is to the free-flying community for summer flying. Also, several South African paragliding Nationals have been held in Barberton. Barberton is the ideal place for beginners to travel on their first XC glides but also for hard racing and very technical decision making.

Flying site

Barberton is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, which has its origin in the 1880s gold rush in the region. It is situated in the De Kaap Valley and is fringed by the Makhonjwa Mountains. It is 43 km south of Nelspruit and 360 km to the east of Johannesburg. The mountains around Barberton are amongst the oldest in the world dating back 3.5 Billion years, and these mountains include some of the oldest exposed rocks on the planet. These volcanic rocks, which scientists call the Barberton Greenstone Belt, have given up direct evidence of conditions of life on the surface of the very early earth.
The site is used exclusively for winter flying, where thermal strengths can vary from less than 1m/s to approximate 5m/s, with an average around 2-3m/s. The flying day usually starts around 12pm, although flying from 10am is not uncommon. This is a summer rainfall region, so rain is not anticipated, with temperatures varying from around 10 degrees C in the mornings to 28 degrees C in early afternoon.
The site has been used for more than 20-years, initially by hanggliders, but now predominantly by the paragliding fraternity. During the last couple of years, the site has delivered an average of 5 successful task per competition, with the other days often flyable, but not "taskable". The best flying takes place between about 12:30 am and 3:30 pm, with tasks usually set to start at about 1.pm. Task distances usually varying from 40 to 60km. While the site does not hold any South African records, flights of more than 100km have taken place to the west.
The site takes a northerly and northeastly wind, with take-off a trigger on the mountain. Cold fronts brings southerly wind and makes take-off impossible.
Berg winds from the west are usually our only concern, although these are forecast beforehand.
Post frontal days usually result in the base lifting to greater than 3000m ASL, i.e.,.more than 2000 m above the valley floor.

Take off Lone Tree Hill - 1290 m ASL (-25.8016725, 31.0557441)
Winds NE and NW. Access to the site is via a gravel road, and transport to take-off will be provided by 10-seater busses. Take-off comprises a grassy knoll, with the ability to layout up to eight gliders, depending on the wind direction. Top landing is possible for experienced pilots but is not recommended for low air-time pilots.

Only a limited number of private vehicles will be given access to the mounting owing to constraints imposed on us by the land owner.

Landing Golf Club - 830 m ASL. (-25.7907903, 31.0401911)
A grassy field on the territory of the Golf club

Selection and entry fee

The Championships are open to all Members and Associated Member countries of the FAI who may enter any number of competitors not exceeding 120. Pilots will be selected based on successful registration and payment for the competition.

Entry fee: The fee will be R3,500.00 (205 Euro). Early bird discount before 31 March 2022 is R2,500.00 (145 Euro)
Competing per day: R550
Students and Free Flyers: R100 per day
Vehicle Permits: R1 000 (only 10 available)

Payments can be made to:
B P O
Capitec Bank
Account no: 1634053409
Saving Account
Please use your Surname and Initials as reference

Documents required at registration

  • The organiser requires you to present your National flying licence.

    National Licence
  • You will need to sign an applicaton form at the venue. Usually the organiser will provide it on arrival.

    Signed Application form
  • You will need to sign a waiver or release document to show you understand the risks. Usually the organiser will provide it on arrival.

    Signed Waiver/Release form

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations need to be made in writing at least (two) weeks in advance to qualify for a refund. A (10%) administration fee will be charged for any cancellations received. Cancellations made after (two) weeks will not be refunded.

Prize fund and scoring categories

Prizes/trophies will be awarded for first, second and third places: overall, ladies, performance, sport, intermediate, novice, and tandem (if entered). The fund will include a trophy and sponsored paraphernalia.

General schedule

Saturday, 23 April 2022
09:00 - 17:00 Free flying, Own permit & key; own transport
16:00 - 19:00 Confirmation of online registration (Registration closes 24 April 2021)

Sunday, 24 April 2022
07:00 - 09:00 Confirmation of online registration
09:00 - 09:30 Briefing and selection of task committee

Monday, 25 April 2022 – Saturday 30 April 2022
(Comp Flying 9:30 - 18:00)

Saturday, 30 May 2021
16:00 Deadline for tracklog upload (Time to run FAI scoring formula)
19:30 Prize giving and Closing ceremony

Daily schedule

09:30 Vehicles leave for take-off
11:00 Task briefing
11:30 Window opens
15:00 Window closes
18:00 Deadline for tracklog upload (Time to run FAI scoring formula)
19:00 Publishing of Provisional results
21:00 Deadline for uploading of backup and fixing of problems (Organisers must be informed)
ASAP Publishing of daily Final results

Accommodation and Activities

http://www.barberton.co.za/
http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/mpumalanga/bysuburb/barberton/
http://www.sa-venues.com/destinations/mpumalanga/barberton/attractions/

How to get here

By Plane: The town of Nelspruit, some 50 km to the north of Barberton, has an international airport with car hire facilities. If you need a transfer please ask the organizers for a shuttle. It takes about 45 min to fly by the local carrier to Nelspruit from Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport). There are 4-7 flights a day.

By Car: It takes about 4 hours to get to Barberton from Johannesburg via N12 and N4 highway. You can also rent a car at the airport in Nelspruit. It takes 40 min (about 50 km) to get to Barberton from Nelspruit airport by car via R40 highway.

Kufra District, Libya
Barberton South Africa

Plane

Nelspruit, some 50 km to the north of Barberton, has an international airport with car hire facilities. If you need a transfer please ask the organizers for a shuttle.
It takes about 45 min to fly by local carrier to Nelspruit from Johannesburg. There are 4-7 flights a day.

Car

It takes about 4 hours to get to Barberton from Johannesburg via N12 and N4 highway.

You can also rent a car in the airport of Nelspruit. It takes 40 min (about 50 km) to get to Barberton from Nelspriut airport by car via R40 highway.

Downloads

Waypoint files

Organizers

Willie De Klerk
Event organiser
Email: lkonstruksie@mweb.co.za

Contacts

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Tasks and results

Task 1

24 Apr, 2022

39.9 km — Race to goal

Replay:
Task results:
Comp. results:

Task 2

26 Apr, 2022

26.6 km — Race to goal

Replay:
Task results:
Comp. results:

Task 5

29 Apr, 2022

28.9 km — Race to goal

Replay:
Task results:
Comp. results:
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