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Europe / UK Racing Round-up May 2005


France :- 14 /05 /05 - Raid d�Hardelot 2005 - This was the 21st running of the 3 hr race on a wet, and lumpy beach in very gusty winds. (18 � 33mph)
Over 100 pilots/racers ran to their buggies in the old style �Le Mans� start to take on the 20Km course. It was a fast and furious event, with only about 60 pilots/racers making the finish line! Graham Steel, K700, UK managed to come in 1st, flying his new Ozone Yakuza kites, one of the few competitors to stay out of trouble throughout the race.

Belgium:- 15 / 05 / 05 � Imlavee Windekind 2005, organised by the Belgian Buggy Association, was a 4 race event. Very competitive over a beach course. The results speak for themselves��with G. Steel again flying the new Ozone Yakuza.

1st Race
1. K700 Graham Steel. UK
2. B1003 Bert Carels. Belgium
3. K708 Chris Hill. UK
2nd Race
1. K700 G. Steel. UK
2. B1021 Thibaud Brousse. Belgium
3. B1012 Mathijs Oyaert. Belgium
3rd Race
1. K700 G.Steel. UK
2. B1021 T. Brousse. B
3. B1003 B. Carels. B
4th Race
1. K700 G. Steel. UK
2. K708 C. Hill. UK
3. B1012 M. Oyaert. B
Overall Placings
1. K700 G. Steel. UK
2. B1021 T. Brousse. B
3. B1012 M. Oyaert. B
4. K708 C. Hill. UK

UK :- Pembrey, South Wales � This round of the Super Cup series, a 2hr race, this time set over a 3.1m triangular course, took place in glorious weather and good winds. (11mph � 18mph)
Around 48 pilots/racers started the race and those who started on kites 6.0m + took full advantage of the lesser winds but after an hour the winds picked up giving those who opted for less than 6.0m the chance to take full advantage of the power and overhaul some of the bigger kites on the home run leg of the course.
The wind pick-up coupled with a subtle wind shift increased the average speeds, and lap times of 7.15min � 7.30min were being achieved by the leading racers.

A tight race between Graham Steel, Peter Swann, Simon Bosworth, Gray Wass, & Chris Hill continued for 2hrs, with the final results :-

1. K700 Graham Steel � Ozone Yakaza
2. K721 Peter Swann � PKD Century
3. K2 Simon Bosworth � PKD Combat
4. K4 Gray Wass �Libre
5. K708 Chris Hill � Ozone Razor

This year the choice of powerkites being used are more varied than previous seasons.
Ozone Razor, PKD Century, Libre, JoJo, Flexifoil, Rhombus, Airea, & Predator. The new Ozone Yakuza, not available off the shelf at present, & the PKD Combat also not available off the shelf at present, but both soon to be launched after final tweaking.

Steve Walt Webb