There are three hovercraft events over the next month or so that may interest visitors to this site.
These are globally distributed events that are the ideal way to find out more about light hovercraft in the USA and Europe! All these events’ organisers are proud to welcome visitors, so long as they have contact in advance so can plan for it!
The first is in Boulogne, France on 10/11th August – a celebration of fifty years since the Boulogne Hoverport was opened for high-speed travel between Boulogne and Dover. Now back on again! – see below.
The second is the Hoverclub of America Muscoda, Wisconsin Hover-in weekend at Victoria Park also 09/11th August
The third is in Saalburg, Germany from 28th August to 1st September. This is the 2024 World Hovercraft Racing Championship meeting.
The events have a very different flavour, with Boulogne being an anniversary celebration gathering, Muscoda being a typical freewheeling rally event, and the World Championships in Saalburg being a highly charged racing competition.
Information on each event with contact details is given below. If you need help, do send a mail to techsec@Thehovercraftsociety.org.uk and I will do my best.
Good News – a further update from Pascal. The event can run, but may have some activity restrictions.
Bonjour à tous,
Il y a du nouveau ! Les 1% de l’action du maire semblent porter leurs fruits. Par conséquent, il semble que la rencontre prévue les 10 et 11 août pourra se tenir à l’Hoveport de Boulogne, bien qu’il puisse y avoir des restrictions d’évolution. Nous aurons une réponse définitive lundi avant midi. Je ne pensais pas que l’action du maire serait aussi efficace auprès des services de la préfecture. Croisons les doigts pour la réponse de lundi, en espérant que cela n’ait pas causé trop de perturbations dans vos réservations.
À lundi pour la suite des péripéties administratives.
Hello everyone,
There are new developments! The 1% action by the mayor seems to be having an effect. Consequently, it appears that the meeting scheduled for the 10th and 11th of August can take place at Hoveport in Boulogne, possibly with some restrictions on activities. We will have a definitive answer by Monday before noon. I didn’t expect the mayor’s action to be so effective with the prefecture’s services. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Monday’s response, hoping it hasn’t caused too much disruption to your reservations.
See you on Monday for the next chapter in our administrative adventures.
Pascal L
Do make contact with him via the email below for further updates for yourself!
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Yesterday we have received the following notice from Pascal L, organiser of the event. We leave this info in place so you have the whole story. It will be very good if the event goes as planned!
Bonjour à tous,
Je suis vraiment attristé de devoir vous écrire cela. Je pensais vous envoyer l’affiche de l’événement, mais j’ai reçu une très mauvaise nouvelle. La mairie du Portel n’a pas obtenu les autorisations nécessaires (OAT pour l’accès à la côte maritime). Il reste un maigre espoir que le maire, actuellement en vacances, puisse obtenir les papiers nécessaires avec le tampon de certification, mais à 99%, la rencontre à Boulogne est annulée.
Nous étions heureux de pouvoir célébrer ensemble ces 50 ans du premier rallye d’aéroglisseurs. Je pense cependant à un plan B : se retrouver au camping de Gien en bord de Loire et profiter du week-end pour naviguer sur ce fleuve sauvage. De plus, nous avons une démonstration prévue le 15 août sur un petit lac près de Nancy.
J’ai demandé une lettre avec en-tête de la mairie et le cachet du maire pour annoncer l’annulation de l’événement afin que cela puisse servir pour des remboursements de réservations.
Encore toutes mes excuses pour ce contretemps regrettable. Merci de me faire savoir si le camping de Gien vous intéresse.
Bien à vous tous
Pascal L
Hello everyone,
I am truly saddened to have to write this to you. I was planning to send you the event poster, but I have received some very bad news. The Portel town hall has not obtained the necessary authorizations (OAT for access to the coastal area). There is a slim hope that the mayor, currently on vacation, can get the required documents with the certification stamp, but 99% of the Boulogne meeting is cancelled.
We were looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first hovercraft rally together. However, I am considering a Plan B: meeting at the Gien campsite on the banks of the Loire and enjoying the weekend navigating this wild river. Additionally, we have a demonstration scheduled on August 15th on a small lake near Nancy.
I have requested a letter with the town hall’s letterhead and the mayor’s seal to announce the cancellation of the event so that it can be used for reservation refunds.
Once again, my apologies for this unfortunate setback. Please let me know if you are interested in the Gien campsite.
Hover regards,
Pascal L
Do make contact with Pascal for info about the other events he has organised down on the Loire River.
Contact Pascal L at email: airdeglisse@free.fr
Original info about the event is as follows:
Participez à un week-end vibrant d’activités à l’Hoverport! Des sessions d’entraînement aux “Koinobori”, nettoyages de plage, et une course spectaculaire sur un circuit ovale, à une chasse au trésor aventureuse et une inauguration spéciale par la Mairie du Portel.
Un événement communautaire riche en histoire et en divertissement.
Take part in a vibrant weekend of activities at the Hoverport! From “Koinobori” training sessions, beach clean-ups and a spectacular race on an oval track, to an adventurous treasure hunt and a special inauguration by Le Portel Town Hall.
A community event rich in history and entertainment.
Saturday Morning/Samedi Matin 10 Août- Accueil des participants/ hello to drivers
Installation sur le paddock et positionnement au camping. Préparez-vous pour un week-end excitant !
Installation on the paddock and positioning at the campsite. Get ready for an exciting weekend!
Apres Midi / Afternoon
Samedi après-midi, explorez le site, découvrez les horaires des marées et la zone de baignade. Pour les participants à la chorégraphie, une session d’entraînement sera organisée. Préparez-vous pour le spectacle !
On Saturday afternoon, explore the site, find out about the tide times and the swimming area. For those taking part in the choreography, a training session will be organised. Get ready for the show!
Soirée Anniversaire des 50 ans / 50th Anniversary Party
Samedi soir, venez célébrer avec Airdeglisse les 50 ans du premier rallye international d’aéroglisseur sur la Côte d’Opale. Repas offert (hors entrée-apéro et boissons). Fêtez l’histoire et l’aventure !
On Saturday evening, join Airdeglisse in celebrating 50 years of the first international hovercraft rally on the Côte d’Opale. Meal on offer (excluding entrance fee and drinks). Celebrate history and adventure!
Dimanche / Sunday 11 Août / August 2024
8h-10h Nettoyage de la plage / 8am-10am Clean beach
Nous invitons les pilotes à se joindre à nous pour une action de nettoyage vers la plage d’Équihen. Embarquez avec nous les habitants matinaux du Portel et ensemble, contribuons à rendre la plage plus propre en ramassant un maximum de déchets.
We’re inviting riders to join us for a clean-up action on Équihen beach. Join us, the early morning residents of Le Portel, and together we can help make the beach cleaner by collecting as much rubbish as possible.
10-12h Entrainement et chasse au trésor / 10-12pm Training and treasure hunt
Session d’entraînement matinale, préparez-vous pour une session d’entraînement avec les cerfs-volants koinobori, parfaite pour les participants de la chorégraphie. Parallèlement, vous aurez un rôle crucial dans une chasse au trésor unique pour le public. Vous accueillerez les participants arrivant au paddock et les guiderez vers un point spécial de leur parcours, pour les emmener à un emplacement exclusif accessible uniquement en aéroglisseur. Préparez-vous à offrir une expérience mémorable et engageante pour tous les participants !
Get ready for a morning training session with the koinobori kites, perfect for the choreography participants. At the same time, you’ll play a crucial role in a unique treasure hunt for the public. You’ll welcome participants arriving at the paddock and guide them to a special point on their route, taking them to an exclusive location accessible only by hovercraft. Get ready to deliver a memorable and engaging experience for all participants!
12h-14h / 12pm-2pm Anniversary Ceremony
La Mairie du Portel nous invite à une cérémonie spéciale avec les anciens de l’Hoverport. Rejoignez-nous pour l’ouverture officielle du paddock et une commémoration des moments marquants de l’Hoverport. Un événement poignant à partager ensemble.
Le Portel Town Hall invites us to a special ceremony with Hoverport alumni. Join us for the official opening of the paddock and a commemoration of the Hoverport’s most memorable moments. A poignant event to share together.
14h- Rallye collaboratif / 2pm- Collaborative Rally
Amusons-nous tout en mettant en avant nos compétences de pilotage dans une ambiance détendue et festive ! Il est prévu un rallye collaboratif sur un circuit ovale composé de plage et de bâches, face à l’Hoverport. Nous invitons tous les pilotes à rejoindre cette compétition amicale, où collaboration et amusement priment. Si vous avez des idées innovantes pour des épreuves de compétition, n’hésitez pas à les partager avec nous ! Ensemble, créons un événement mémorable dans une ambiance détendue et festive.
Let’s have some fun while showcasing our driving skills in a relaxed and festive atmosphere! We’re planning a collaborative rally on an oval circuit made up of beach and tarpaulins, opposite the Hoverport. We invite all drivers to join in this friendly competition, where collaboration and fun come first. If you have any innovative ideas for competition events, don’t hesitate to share them with us! Together, let’s create a memorable event in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.
Apres 18h / After 6 pm Show des koinobori / The koinobori show
Chaque équipe est invitée à se préparer pour présenter sa chorégraphie de cerfs-volants koinobori à partir de 18h. Soyez prêts à déployer vos talents et à enchanter l’assistance avec vos performances artistiques!
Each team is invited to get ready to present its koinobori kite choreography from 6pm. Get ready to display your talents and delight the audience with your artistic performances!
Link for page: http://airdeglisse.free.fr/leportel2024.html
Entry form: https://framaforms.org/hoverport-boulogne-10-11-aout-2024-1712474725
Contact organiser Pascall at email: airdeglisse@free.fr
So far 19 craft registered, and 52 hovercraft visitors. There should be considerable local interest in Boulogne also during the weekend.
The weather is projected to be 23/12 degrees Centigrade over the weekend and the river level is typically low on the Wisconsin River at this time of year which is a perfect combination for hovercrafting on a river known for its numerous sandbars.
The river transforms into a nearly endless beach that provides limitless options to stop and cool off in the water or just enjoy the picturesque views of the driftless region. This is unique area that escaped the bulldozing effects of the glaciers during the last ice age. Muscoda is ideally located in the centre of the last 80 mile stretch of the river before it joins the Mississippi River.
Pilots have the option to cruise 40 miles upriver to the dam in Prairie du Sac or 40 miles downriver via Boscobel to the Mississippi River. We typically cruise about 20 miles upriver to the Riverside Resort in Spring Green for lunch on Saturday. From there the group typically splits up to enjoy the river however they like. With reasonably priced camping on site and several hotels in Richland Center and Boscobel, towns not far away, it’s one of the most convenient and hovercraft friendly events in the country.
Contact: Michael McFarland, Secretary, Hoverclub of America at his email.
Email: wwjmmm@hotmail.com
This will take place at Saalburg – Ebersdorf, in the south east of Germany. The location is one of the largest reservoirs in Germany and a popular location for boating.
The event begin with setting up the site and competitor arrivals on 29th August.
The main racing events in the internationally recognised classes will be held during 30th, 31st August and 1st September.
There will be a grand fireworks during the party evening of 31st August following a barbeque.
Presentations for the winning individual and team trophies will be on Sunday 1st September after final races.
This is a highly competitive racing event with competitions from junior level through the the highest powered ‘Formula 1’ craft that have to be seen in action to be believed. Participation is from many countries in Europe, plus the Americas.
Full details of the event, with entry forms and booking froms for the barbequeue can be found here, in German. A multilanguage version in German/French/English can be found here.
The organisers are Manuel and Jessica Metzner of Hoverclub Thuringen, at:
AMK Dienstleistungs GmbH
Geschäftsführer Manuel Metzner
07907 Schleiz
Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 4a
Telefon: +49 (0)3663 4259180
Email: info@hovercraft-saalburg.de
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