His highlight to date: “The 1,278-kilometer flight with the Ventus 3”. In a team flight together with Tobias Welsch, Manfred Dick and Alexander and Bernd Schmid, he first flew far into the Namib Desert. The second part of the route led along the edge of the weather developments to the border with South Africa, before heading back to Bitterwasser through the showery landscape in the evening. “It was not only challenging in terms of flying, but also the scenery was simply incredible!” says Benedikt.
The Bitterwasser Cup is aimed at all young glider pilots up to the age of 25. The flights must have taken off from an OLC Europe country, and the six best flights will be judged according to the OLC Plus rules. The winner of the Cup will receive exclusive coaching in Bitterwasser, including a free flight, accommodation and the opportunity to either use a glider from the lodge or have their own club glider transported to Namibia free of charge.
Although the season in Bitterwasser seems to be coming to an end in mid-January, the weather is at its best. Pilots from all over the world enjoy impressive thermals, breathtaking cross-country flights over 1000 km and a unique community.
The last season 2023/24 ended with a spectacular highlight for Dmitry Borovyk and Anton Minskii: on the very last day, they managed to fly around three declared turning points that cover an impressive distance of 1250 kilometers. This extraordinary achievement earned them the privilege of planting a palm tree in Bitterwasser - an honor only bestowed on the best pilots. One year later, the two are now returning to Bitterwasser to plant their palm tree in a festive ceremony in keeping with the old Bitterwasser tradition.