The XC Open World Series

The first XC Open of the 2008 series will be held in Manilla, Australia on 9th - 16th February 2008.

Registration is now open via the web site :  www.xc-open.org

(FLYGIRL - I see Gary Whitecross has signed up with me, for another lesson in Flatlands Flying :-)))) Only joking Gary, but it will be great flying with you again!)  Don't miss out, all those thinking of going - Registration has only been open  for a few days and already 46 pilots have signed up.  Last year I was on a waiting list MONTHS in advance.  Manilla, Australia is the best place in the whole world for relaxing, easy flatland flying - and everyone knows it!!

Back to Godfrey, the Host:
The FAI Cat 2 sanctioned events provide pilots with potentially more flying than any other competition format. Typically the Manilla events are the only ones on the Australian competition calendar which attract large numbers of international pilots each year and are quickly over subscribed.

In XC Open Manilla 2007 more than 1/2 the pilots flew Personal Bests including the entire German National Team, and many national records were set.

The XC Open events are designed to provide all levels of pilots with almost unlimited opportunity to fly XC in safe locations and maximise kilometres and flying hours every day. This is unlike goal task comps where head winds, difficult task routes and mis-predicted weather can result in a pilot only flying a few hours over a whole week. 

In Manilla pilots can start from any of the 4 massive Mt Borah astro-turfed launches whenever they like, with no pressure, and, in most cases, fly anywhere the like as there are virtually no airspace restrictions in the region where XC's usually take place.

Re-flights are permitted from bomb outs (even if landing 20kms+ away !), and a variety of open distance task options are given. This includes make your own turn points as you fly to maximise the effect of any wind and conditions changes. The scoring system automatically calculates your best distance via the turnpoints. This flexibility improves safety and of course fun for all classes of pilots. It also adds an interesting tactical component to each days flying as pilots need to assess XC conditions and routes in the air and decide where to go to.

Pilots can also fly beyond the Last Task Time if they are going for Personal Best or records (but naturally their flight is scored to that time only).

The "Best of X day scores out of Y flying days" rule allows pilots to rest after big days or opt out if they think conditions are not suited to them thereby also increasing safety.

Categories include FUN (DHV 1/2), SPORT (DHV 2), SERIAL (DHV 3), FEMALE and OPEN. Teams scoring uses bonus factors for all classes below OPEN to add an even competative element to this part of the event for all pilot levels (it is easily possible for a team flying all DHV 1/2's to win the team event for example !).

Standard for this XC Open World Series, and in a first for an Australian event, a paramedic will be stationed on launch each day. Entry of 130 euro's (160 euro is the late entry fee) includes unlimited Borah Basher rides during the window open period, T-shirt, Manilla Sky Sailors site fee (with a refund if a pilot already has the annual sticker), welcome and presentation function, prizes, expert XC weather and safety briefings. A retrieve service is available as an optional extra.

XC Open World Series - Fly as Far as You Can

See you Down Under in Feb !

Godfrey Wenness
Manilla Paragliding Australia - Host of the XC Open World Series - Manilla 2008 

IMAGES OF THE XC OPEN in Manilla, Australia 2007