The second running of the Spring Provence Glide wrapped up at Vinon-sur-Verdon on Saturday 28 March 2026, with Belgian pilot Dennis Huybreckx taking the overall title in the Multi-Classe competition after a week of varied conditions over the hills and gorges of Provence.
The competition ran from 21 March to 28 March, with competitors arriving on the Saturday and the final task and prize-giving held on the closing day. Entry was capped at 30 pilots, with selection by IGC ranking applied if demand exceeded that number. In the end 31 pilots lined up, drawn from clubs across France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Argentina, making for a compact but genuinely international field.
Six tasks were flown over the week. The competition used the French FFVP Multi-Classe handicapping system The fleet ranged from 15-metre glides such as the Ventus A and LS 6, through to current 18-and 21-metre including the JS3, Ventus 3T, ASH 31 Mi, and several Arcus two-seaters.
Task 1 — 23 March, 327 km fixed circuit
The first scored task set a 327 km circuit taking the field north via Manosque and Beaurière, west to Mézels, then up to Savines before returning to Vinon. Maximilian Seis, flying a JS3 18m for AAVA Vinon, won the day with a handicapped speed of 111.69 kph over the full 327 km course, collecting 972 points. Corbillé and Corbillé in their ASH 25 Mi took second at 110.64 kph, with Christoph Limpert third in his ASH 31 Mi at 110.50 kph. Huybreckx, who would go on to win the competition, finished fifth on the opening day at 107.86 kph, just 58 points behind the leader.
Task 2 — 24 March, 323 km fixed circuit
The second task was an AST of 327 km, flown in good forecast conditions. Dennis Huybreckx took the day convincingly, posting 136.26 kph over the 323 km circuit for 748 points — a notably faster day than Task 1, reflecting the stronger conditions. Le Gall and Bruyere finished second at 131.19 kph, with Maximilian Seis third at 133.12 kph. The pace across the field was high, with the top 11 finishers all completing the course above 110 kph.
Task 3 — 25 March, AAT with wave influence
Some wind was forecast for 25 March, with the organisers anticipating possible wave, and a two-hour AAT task was set. Jean-Denis Barrois, flying a Ventus A 15m on home ground at AAVA Vinon, placed second for the day. Aurélien Doriat in a Discus 2a took the day's top points with 567, demonstrating what an older but lighter glider can do in wave-influenced air. The day proved more selective than the first two tasks, with a number of pilots unable to complete the full distance.
Task 5 — 27 March, 282 km fixed circuit
Task 5 covered a 281.52 km circuit with turnpoints at Gréoux-les-Bains, Castillon Barrage, Seyne Aero, Sainte-Croix Aero, La Javie Pont, and Manosque Pont. The day proved difficult, with only nine of the 30 starters completing the full course. Huybreckx again led the finishers at 101.57 kph for 872 points, with Prodorutti and Montemaggi second at 97.12 kph. The difficulty of the conditions meant the day's scoring factor reflected the low completion rate, compressing points for those who did not make it round.
Task 6 — 28 March, final day AAT
On the final day, with uncertain weather, a short AAT was set with a minimum time of 90 minutes and a maximum task distance of 327 km. The day was won by Corbillé and Corbillé at 96.58 kph, with Aldo Cernezzi close behind at 96.27 kph and Prodorutti and Montemaggi third at 93.04 kph. Huybreckx had enough in hand to absorb a 14th place on the final day and still take the overall title.
Final Results
Dennis Huybreckx, flying a Ventus 3T 18m for AAPCA Fayence, won the competition with 3,428 points. Prodorutti and Montemaggi, in an Arcus 20M representing the Serristori club, finished second with 3,220 points. Jean-Denis Barrois took third in his Ventus A 15m for AAVA Vinon with 3,135 points.
The margin between first and second — 208 points across six tasks — reflects how the competition remained open for much of the week. Huybreckx's consistency was the deciding factor; he won two tasks outright and never finished outside the top five until the final, difficult day. Barrois's third place in a 15-metre glider against a field of larger-span aircraft is worth noting, and illustrates that the handicapping system continued to produce a genuinely mixed and competitive result.
The competition is organised by the AAVA Vinon club at Vinon-sur-Verdon aerodrome, well known in French soaring circles for its reliable spring thermals and access to the Verdon gorge and the Pre-Alps to the north. Full results and task details are available at soaringspot.com/en_gb/2nd-spring-provence-glide-vinon-2026
