Algarve Great Derby Summer 2026. 5th training

Hello everyone!

Ringo here with another update from the AGD Summer 2026 youngsters.

Today was Training 5, and this time we travelled 74 km. And let’s be honest… this one was different!

It was by far our most demanding training so far, but also probably the one where we learned the most.

The morning conditions were a little tricky. Although the sky was quite clear at both the release and the loft, there was a possibility of fog and low clouds in some areas along the route. So the team waited a little longer before giving us the green light. But with temperatures rising quickly, there was no time to waste.

At 8:15, the GO was given!

A few brave youngsters reached the loft on their own, followed just a minute later by some big groups. After that, the arrivals became more spread out, with mostly medium and smaller groups making their way home.

And there was something particularly interesting today: many of the groups arrived from the back of the loft, meaning from the opposite direction of the release point. This suggests that some of us may have flown past the loft and then had to correct our course to find home.

Could low clouds or fog along the route have caused some of those navigation corrections? It’s certainly possible. Whatever the reason, today gave the youngsters something very valuable: real experience in dealing with changing conditions and finding their way home when everything doesn’t go exactly according to plan.

That’s what training is for.

The next road training is planned for Friday, but the weather is already giving us something to think about. Very high temperatures are forecast for the coming days, so the team will carefully monitor the conditions and decide whether an earlier release is possible. Safety always comes first.

74 km today. A tough lesson, but a very valuable one.

We’re learning, we’re gaining experience, and we’re getting ready for the challenges ahead.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the sky!

Ringo

If you are participating in the Algarve Great Derby Summer and want to take part in our competition, sign up at Link