It was an unbelievable exciting race with plucky landings on difficult places.

Our pilots would be happy to be in Spain or Portugal too but at the same time they are proud to be within the first pilots who did fly to Africa with a normal gas balloon… and it ‘s very warm in Algeria also.

BEL 1 want to say ‘thank you very much’ to everyone who helped us in Belgium and also there in Algeria.

The 3 ‘African teams’ and their balloons are together in Algiers now and hope to come to Europe soon… When? That’s the question!

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• News from Algeria
• Here they are!
• Director’s corner (12)
• Director’s corner (10)
• BEL1 safely landed

British pilot Janet Folkes is about to break the World Record for Women this very minute.

The rules of the FAI require a 1% increase versus the previous record. That record was performed by Lesly P. Davies (USA) with passenger Carol Davis on Oct 10, 1995 in Albuquerque. Her flight ended after 60:12 hours.

Today – exact on 11:56 local time – Janet is about to break this record with 60:48 hours.

We congratulate Janet Folkes and Ann-Ruth Rich to this great achievement. We are pretty sure Janet and Ruth will realize this after landing because right now they are focussing entirely on this Coupe.

All figures of course are unconfirmed and unofficial, but it looks very good for a new World record (FAI category, AA 7)!

Credits http://www.ballon.eu/2009_coupe_eboard.html

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05.09.2009 10:00 loc (saturday): Briefing

A bright clear sky welcomed pilots and crews this morning on their way to the launchfield at Vessy. During the briefing at 10:00 local time the event director reported on the current and forecast meteo-situation.

The trajectories still do confirm a southerly heading. A high flight path at 4.000 m AMSL will take teams down into Korsika, Sardinia and even further. If decided to fly at medium altitude in the range of about 2500m AMSL, the heading might be Marseille down the Rhone-valley. The “Mistral” needs to be monitored closely. The lowest flying pattern will take teams into the south-westerly corner of France before they may decide to fly onto the Mediterranean Sea and later make landfall again in Spain. The race does promise some very interesting flights, where strategy will be a key-challenge next to the endurance needed by pilots flying high (using oxygen) and potentially over water.

The launch decison was made. It is a clear “go” for tonight’s launch. Pilots will be launched tonight at about 22:00 local time.

 Credits www.ballon.eu/2009_coupe_eboard.html

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The pin is a round ‘GroundPin’, and a ‘Ballonpin’ on it.

When you want to order one ore more, sent an email to gb2009@ballon.org .
Price : 5 Euro + 2,20 Euro Shipping! (please ask before for outside Germany)
When you order 5 ex, the shipping cost are reduced or free.

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We are getting back to you regarding the accomodation during the Gordon Bennett 2009.
The hotel is the Ramada Encore and there are 2 rooms booked for each team starting the 4th September 2009.

However, if you wish to arrive 1 day before. Please send us an email as soon as possible.
Moreover, Those of you who would like to assist at the awards ceremony on the 12th September, should announce it in order to organize the accomodation.

Here is the hotel’s website : http://www.ramadaencore.ch/fr

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

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