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Event info

Let's start 2023 with the British Winter Open, to be held in Castelo, Brazil

Registration & Practice: Wednesday 8th March
Tasks days: Thursday 9th March to Wednesday 15th March 2023.

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Flying site

Castelo is located in about 450 km NE from Rio de Janeiro and 145 km from the state capital Vitória. It stands at 100 meters above sea level. Castelo's borders are: Alfredo Chaves and Domingos Martins (E), Venda Nova do Imigrante and Conceição do Castelo (N), Muniz Freire and Alegre (W) and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (S.

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  • 110 Pilots Confirmed
  • 110 Pilots total registered
  • 300 EUR Entry fee
Go to Pilot List
  • 130 Pilots max allowed
  • 23 Countries presented
  • ✅ All certified wings allowed
  • 🏆 FAI Status = CAT 2 🏅
  • left before start of event
  • 🛰️

    The organiser will supply Live trackers to you, for safety and scoring

    Live trackers supplied
  • 🚁

    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
  • 🛰️

    Live Tracking is MANDATORY in this event to score. The organiser will provide the trackers.

    Live trackers mandatory
  • 🚐

    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
  • 🛰

    The organisers will download the tracklogs at HQ for scoring

    Tracklogs managed
  • 📢

    The organisers are using Airtribune for registration, tracking, blogging and to publish scores

    Airtribune blogging
  • 🏋️

    There will be ballast water available at launch

    Ballast on takeoff
  • 🥪

    There will be daily lunch packs for pilots

    Lunch packs
  • The organisers will have free WiFi available at HQ

    Free WiFi
  • 🍺

    There will usually be goal beers for winners

    Goal beers
  • 🍕

    There will be a social evening with food

    Food
  • 🎉

    There will be an organised party during or after the event

    Party
  • 👕

    You will receive a tshirt or other welcome gift

    Free gift
  • 🅰

    This event awards PWCA letters

    PWCA Letters
  • 🌲

    The organisers have commmitted to Carbon Offset the event and/or Plant a Tree for each competitor

    Carbon offset / Plant a Tree
  • ♻️

    The organisers support reducing the use of unnecessary plastic at the event. This includes NOT giving disposable water bottles

    Plastic reduction

Prize funds and scoring categories

  • OVERALL Class
  • SERIAL Class
  • SPORTS Class
  • FEMALE Class
  • BRITISH OVERALL
  • REYNOLDS

Event info

Let's start 2023 with the British Winter Open, to be held in Castelo, Brazil

Registration & Practice: Wednesday 8th March
Tasks days: Thursday 9th March to Wednesday 15th March 2023.

Castelo is a world class paragliding competition venue, having hosted numerous National, World Cup and Pan-American Championship events. The venue boasts exceptionally reliable flying conditions in March, with only a handful of tasks over the past few years having been cancelled. The Winter Open will run 2 days before the PWC event in Castelo, giving pilots the opportunity to extend their winter flying in Brazil with two high level events back to back, for those that also qualify for the PWC. For those that do not, there are ample free flying opportunities in the region.

Generally pilots as a minimum must have:-
• Made a 50km flight to goal in a FAI competition in the last 2 years OR
• Made a 100km XC flight in the past 2 years

If in doubt, please contact the organization with full declaration of your experience for acceptance.

The event will have a mix of Sports wings and CCC wings.

Flying site

Castelo is located in about 450 km NE from Rio de Janeiro and 145 km from the state capital Vitória. It stands at 100 meters above sea level. Castelo's borders are: Alfredo Chaves and Domingos Martins (E), Venda Nova do Imigrante and Conceição do Castelo (N), Muniz Freire and Alegre (W) and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (S).
The town is surrounded by mountains each having a suitable place for take off. The fights are made along the river valley of Rio Castelo and Rio Itapemirim. This place has hosted PWC in 2006, 2008 and 2012 and is a regular place for local national competitions.

Apeninos
Take off : 20°35'18" (20.5885)S; 41°9'55" (41.1655)W , 676 m ASL.
The launch ground is a natural wide grass ramp, with no restrictions, slight slope angle, easy to take-off. Best season from September to March, but its possible to fly all year round. There is S wind almost every afternoon, making the flight easy, pleasant and with a beautiful view to enjoy. To get there drive 8 miles from downtown Castelo on a good dirt road, after through Fazenda das Flores farm, go uphill heading to Apeninos, then follow the signs.
Landing : 20°36'40" (20.6113)S; 41°9'14" (41.1539)W, 98 m ASL.
Official landing site is on Fazenda das Flores farm; there are many alternative landing spots. One can easily reach downtown, landing on the soccer field.

Uba
Take off : 20°36'12" (20.6034)S; 41°5'8" (41.0856)W, 919 m ASL.
The launch ground is natural grass ramp, makes easy take-off. There are restrooms. 17.5 miles from Castelo on a good dirt road to get there.
Landing : 20°35'18" (20.5886)S; 41°6'44" (41.1125)W, 110 m ASL.
Official landing area on Fazenda da Prata. Many alternative landing areas.

Sao Vicente
Take off - 20°38'35" (20.6432)S; 41°5'16" (41.088)W , 714 m ASL.
The launch ground is an ample grassy hilltop. Start is easy.
Landing : 20°38'12" (20.6367)S; 41°7'0" (41.1169)W, 104 m ASL.

Patrimonio do Ouro
Take off : 20°34'3" (20.5677)S; 41°4'55" (41.082)W, 835 m ASL.
The launch ground is a grassy hill slope.
Landing : 20°35'27" (20.5911)S; 41°6'44" (41.1124)W, 111 m ASL.
The closest is the football field, but there are other landings following the valley in direction of Castello.

Alto Chapéu
Take off : 20°34'53" (20.5816)S; 41°15'28" (41.258)W , 816 m ASL.

Take off info source: http://www.paraglidingearth.com/

Selection and entry fee

Registration Process 2023
Pilots will be ranked for the competition as follows:
British pilots will be ranked by date/time of registration.
Pilots of other nations will be ranked by their current WPRS# position

# The first 50% of the places are selected according to WPRS. Any remaining places will be selected according to Time Registered. This rule is new for 2022, and has been put in place to allow lower ranked, but keen, pilots the opportunity to participate.

The Panel reserves the right to award places out of ranking order, and to award wildcards in any manner they please.

Until 60 days prior to the start of the event:
• 15% of places are reserved for female pilots .
• 15 places are reserved for Brazilian pilots, allocated by Wildcard, by the Brazilian NAC

• BHPA members will be exclusively offered places until 31 December, and will pay £250 GBP
• Other nationalities can pay from 1st January, and will pay €300 EUR

IMPORTANT:
• When you register for a competition, if you do not enter your ‘correct’ FAI and CIVL numbers, then you will not be ranked correctly.
• If you are a British pilot, your FAI number is your BHPA number. Your CIVL number you can look up with the link on the Registration page.
• When you register, you will be required to enter your ‘FAI Sporting Licence Nationality’. This is not another nationality you happen to hold, nor is it where you were born, or where you currently live, but is the country that issued your Sporting Licence (‘United Kingdom’ for BHPA issued licences).

Once a competition is full, pilots will be added to a waiting list and then if a place becomes available it will be offered to the next highest ranked pilot on the list. The pilot will receive an email from us inviting them to pay their entry fee and will have 1 week to do so before the place is offered to the next highest ranked pilot on the list.

Payment
• The entry fee for 2023 will be €300 EUR, or 250 GBP. Fees and dates will be strictly adhered to. Payments are made with PayPal.
• If you are offered a place at a competition venue, at the start of the competition, then you must pay your pilot entry fee in cash, in the local currency.

Please contact us if you have a difficulty making payment @ admin@pgcomps.co.uk

Last minute registrations
Any pilot wishing to participate in the event by attending the venue must come to HQ at 15:00 on Saturday 4th. Your name and details will be recorded, and we will inform you in the evening if you have been successful in gaining a place. Selection will be by priority to British pilots, and thereafter by a mixture WPRS points or time registered, according to the Panel's recently announced selection method for future events (It is no longer exclusively by WPRS. See panel news).

Documents required at registration

  • Issued by your local NAC on behalf of the FAI. You cannot normally compete in an FAI event without one. Contact your National Association (NAC)

    FAI Sporting Licence
  • The FAI IPPI card is an International card that states your skill level. It is issued by your National Association and matches the level or your flying Licence

    FAI IPPI Card
  • 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
  • You will need to provide photo ID on arrival. This could be Passport, Driving Licence or National ID, for example.

    Identification documents needed
  • You must provide the organiser with a copy of your liability (3rd party) insurance documents

    Liability Insurance
  • You must provide the organiser with a copy of your medical, rescue and repatriation insurance. You can purchase Global Rescue cover from Airtribune

    Rescue/Medical Insurance

Cancellation Policy

REFUNDS
Any pilot who cancels their registration will be given a refund as follows (based on Full Entry Fee):

• Cancellation date more than 60 days before competition start date: 50% refund*
• Cancellation date between 60 and 30 days before competition start date: 30% refund
• Cancellation date less than 30 days before competition start date: 0% refund*

Cancellation of the Competition by the Organisation
In the event the organisers deem it necessary to cancel, relocate, or reschedule the competition, you will be entitled to a partial refund:
- Up to 30 days before the first official event day: 100% less a £25/30€ admin charge
- Between 30 and 7 days before the first official event day: 75% refund
- Less than 7 days before the first official event day: a lesser percentage to be determined. This lesser percentage will be the balance of funds once any costs incurred by the local organiser have been deducted.

After the start of the competition, any refunds will be at the sole discretion of the organisers.

The organisers will not be liable for any costs incurred by anyone attending, or intending to attend the event, or any consequential losses arising from the cancellation, relocation, or rescheduling of the event.

Prize fund and scoring categories

There will be trophies for:

Overall Class
Serial Class
Sports Class
Female Class
British Overall

There will NOT be any cash prizes. There may be some small gifts from some of our sponsors.

*Classes may be withdrawn if there are less than 5 pilots in a class

General schedule

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Transport to take off 8:30 am
We will have a simple practice task over the Castelo Valley.

The official waypoints, and map is this below.


Practice Day (Task & general site safety on launch at 10 am.
Trackers is mandatory for all flying pilots ( given at TO)

- 02 pm - 06 pm Official Registration and Equipment Inspection.

6:20 pm - Mandatory Safety Briefing at HQ

Friday 10/3 opening cerymony 07:30 pm
08:30 pm live music at central square .
Welcome drinks for pilots

Thursday, March 9 - to Wednesday, March 15
Competition flying days.
Transport at HQ 8:30 am


07pm 15/3
1- Prize giving, and closing ceremony.

We will have a place to live the glider behind of HQ, except Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
At this days, the gliders could stay at the truck of retrieve.
But remember that we can’t be responsible for any problem with them, as stolen / missing glider or any equipment inside .

Daily schedule

7:30 am: Headquarters open
8:00 am: Team Leader meeting
8:30 am: Transportation to take off
10:15 am: Task and Safety Committee meetings
11:15 am: Pilot briefing/Task briefing
12 pm: Take-off window opens (depending on the actual weather conditions)
4 pm: Scoring office opens
7 pm: Provisional results (depending on the last pilot being retrieved)
The daily schedule is subject to change.

Accommodation and Activities

Hotel Estrela do Sul (Av. Nossa Senhora da Penha, 1011 – Santo Agostinho) +55 (28) 3542-3709
Hotel Fort Esperança (Rodovia Fued Nemer, km 03 – Aracuí) +55 (28) 3310-2591 +55 (28) 99931-2591
Hotel Regina (Rua Lídia Machado, 230 Centro) +55 (28) 3542-1594
Hotel Plaza (Av. Nossa Senhora da Penha, 190 – Centro) +55 (28) 3542-1674
Castelo Hotel (Rodovia ES-166 km 023) +55 (28) 3542-0163
Pousada Ares de Ubá (Comunidade de Ubá) +55 (28) 99914-7906
Pousada Lua e Sol (R. Romeu Barbosa, 393 – São Miguel, Castelo – ES, 29360-000) +55 (28) 3542-0119
Alojamento Bela Vista (Barra Alegre) +55 (28) 99909-6321
Casa de Madeira (Arapoca) +55 (28) 99921-2244
Villa Farfalla Restaurante e Hotel (Limoeiro) +55 (28) 99900-3800

How to get here

Praça três irmãos

Praça três irmãos, Castelo, Brazil
Castelo Brazil

Plane

The central internationa airport is Rio de Janeiro. Web: http://www.riogaleao.com/
From there you can take a connection flight to Vitoria or take a coach to Alegre.
The nearest airport is Vitoria. Eurico de Aguiar Salles.

Bus

It takes about 11 hours to get to Castelo from Rio by express bus. Find the schedule here.

Car

From Rio
It takes about 6,5 hours to get there from Rio. Take highway BR-101.

From Vitoria
It takes about 2,5 hours to get there. Take highways BR-101, BR-262 and road ES-477.

Downloads

Waypoint files

Organizers

BHPA Ltd
The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd
8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1RJ, United Kingdom
Zenilson Rocha
Local Contact

Contacts

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Tasks and results

Task 1

09 Mar, 2023

66.9 km — Race to goal

Task 2

10 Mar, 2023

66.8 km — Race to goal

Task 3

11 Mar, 2023

91.3 km — Race to goal

Task 4

12 Mar, 2023

73.2 km — Race to goal

Task 5

13 Mar, 2023

58.6 km — Race to goal

Task 6

14 Mar, 2023

75.0 km — Race to goal

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