Cumulus Cup 2025 Autumn
(Aug. 28th, 2025 - Dec. 11th, 2025)

Share

### Update on SEP 1st 2025 ###

Right. The practice flights are over, and on Thursday it’s time for the first proper competition task. This is the moment where some of you will soar majestically into the sky… and others will plough into a field like a sack of bricks.

Now, here’s the problem. A disturbing number of you have gone and bought VR goggles, because you thought it would make you look like Maverick from Top Gun. It doesn’t. It makes you look like a confused nerd who’s just lost an argument with a microwave. And then there are the others — the ones fiddling about with exotic audio settings, as though surround sound will somehow make their glider faster. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

So the competition jury, in a moment of rare generosity, has decided on a change: the server now opens 20 minutes early. This gives the VR brigade a whole half-hour to poke buttons, squint at menus, and eventually realise — once again — that it was a colossal waste of money and they should have bought beer instead. At that point, they can ram their plastic goggles where the sun doesn’t shine and join the rest of us, the normal people, who simply get on with it.

For the sane among you, nothing really changes. Join at the top of the hour, spend ten minutes clicking things like a functioning adult, and you’re done. The task will still start 15 minutes after join time ends. Easy.

So, to clarify for those who’ve already got a VR headset welded to their face:
– If you’ve got VR goggles, start your tragic fiddling at 15:40 UTC.
– If you’re normal, join between 15:40 and 16:00 UTC.
– Join time ends at 16:10 UTC, and the task starts 15 minutes later.

And if you are normal, all of this won't affect your life at all.

- Written by AI as if narrated by Jeremy Clarkson -

### Update on 25th AUG 2025 ###

The Jury of the Competition, described as a top-performing group of people in patience, has convened and reached a unanimous verdict in the case of The Always Whining Adult Men versus The Wise Leader of the Competition. And the verdict is this:

As for the Cumulus Cup 2025 Autumn: the first two training tasks will be flown in a Duo Discus, which is about as thrilling as having to stop and charge your electric vehicle while towing a glider back from an out-landing. After that, the tasks will be flown in either 15-metre or 18-metre aircraft, with the choice decreed by the Competition Director—whose judgment is far more trustworthy than anything coming out of the peanut gallery.

If you want to fly something other than the AS33, fine. Go ahead. But let me be absolutely clear: all other aircraft are utterly, completely, categorically rubbish. The AS33 is the only proper choice. So don’t you dare come crying afterwards with the old, 'Oh, I would have won if I’d flown the AS33 like everyone else!' No.

- By AI as if narrated by Jeremy Clarkson, comments about Hammond and May removed -

= = = = = = =

Step into the cockpit and take on the challenge in a renewed and exciting format of virtual soaring! We're thrilled to announce an upcoming Condor 3 competition designed to bring together glider pilots of all levels for a fair and tactical contest over the stunning RäyskäläWGC2014 scenery.

### Competition Highlights

- All competition tasks will be flown using the AS 33 Me to ensure an even playing field and focus on pure piloting skill.
- Expect typical Finnish summer conditions ie. cumulus thermals, tricky blue skies and scattered rain showers.
- Racing and AAT tasks
- Task duration 1.5 to 2 hours
- Start height: Max 1500 m MSL or cloud base if lower
- Finish height: Max 500 m MSL
- Launch method: Airborne

### New Training Concept

Before the competition begins, we’ll host two training days for Duo Discus, flown with two-pilot crews. These sessions are designed to promote shared knowledge and tactical discussions, an unique opportunity to learn from each other and refine your competition flying strategies. Flying alone is also okay.

### Communication & Briefings

A dedicated Discord channel will be available for real-time race chat and debriefings. To request an invitation link, please send a message through Condor Club.

### Schedule (a reminder will be sent in advance) ###

AUG 28th (training)
AUG 31th (training)
SEP 4th
SEP 25th
OCT 16th
OCT 30th
NOV 20th
DEC 11th

Organizers:	Mika Koski
Registration closes on:	December 1st, 2025 at 12:00 PM UTC
Competition per teams:	No
Registration type:	Competition is free Note for non-Premium member: your monthly quota will be decreased, as usual, for each FTR submitted.
Number of training tasks:	2
Number of competition tasks:	6
Scoring type:	1000 points
Competition selected for ccRating:	ccRating will be issued after each race day provided that the day is valid (in FAI terms) and server logs have been received.
Glider restriction:	None (or defined on a per-task basis)
Competitor's results used for overall scoring:	Only the 3 best results
Allowed tries per race:	1
Crash policy:	Ignore it
Landing out policy:	Ignore it
Missing FTR policy:	Ignore it
Join time:	15 minutes
Time to send FTR:	2 hours
Use time slots (for timezones):	No
Registered competitors:	46

Register now!