Newsletter: November 2004 (Note: all external links open in a new window)
Next Meeting: Tuesday 7 December @ Bombay Cafe, corner Queen and Jackson Streets, at 7:00pm for a meal.
Minutes: October AGM meeting
December meeting
At the last club meeting it was decided that the December meeting would be held at a cafe or restaurant.
A decision has been made to hold the meeting at the Bombay Cafe, which is on the corner Queen & Jackson Sts, in Petone. Here is a map. NB - it is near the Police Station.
We will be selecting from their standard menu - so you can eat as much as you pay for! The club will provide some wine and beer.
Kris Ericksen
President
Hang gliding news
Guy Harding has provided lots of interesting items on hang gliding.
Mt Victoria redevelopment
A submission has been lodged with the Wellington City Council requesting the a launch area be constructed during the proposed redevelopment of Mt Victoria.
Paekakariki Viewpoint fence reconstruction
KCDC has engaged Kapiti Fencing to construct a vandal proof metal pipe and chain fence at the Paekakariki Viewpoint. The fence installation will apparently be occurring in early December. They have undertaken to install a gate so that hang glider pilots can access the face with their wings.
KCDC has been advised that in order to manoeuvre a hang glider onto a launch site any gate needs to be a minimum of two metres wide, but ideally three metres wide. Given that there will be additional costs faced by KCDC in providing a wider gate the club has offered to contribute $300 to KCDC towards the gate.
At some stage the club will need to organise a working party to do a bit of "weeding" on the face.
NB The Porirua CC planners report recommends that the Tunapo subdivision be declined.
Mangaroa subdivision
A developer is proposing a private plan change to the Upper Hutt City Council's District Plan to allow for subdivisions of less than four hectares in the Mangaroa Valley. Information and links about the proposal can be found at: www.savemangaroa.wellington.net.nz
After much consideration and discussion it was decided that the club submission would neither oppose or support the proposed plan change. The submission requested that restrictions be placed on sections adjacent to a drainage swale to prevent the planting of tall tree species and overhead wires. The swale is about 220 metres long and 20 metres at its narrowest point. Runs parallel to Fluxes Rd: NNW-SSE. Grant has subsequently advised that it may be suitable for experienced pilots - but that it would depend on nearness of trees, wind direction, etc. The submission also requested that information regarding the area being a hang gliding and paragliding locality be put on all LIM reports (Land Information Memorandums). This is an attempt to reduce future complaints about disturbing horses, llamas, emus and ostriches....
Club members, as individuals, were welcome to make their own submission, in either support or opposition to the development. Here is Andy Maloney's submission opposing the development.
Nicky Conroy, who lives near the corner of Mangaroa Valley Road and Fluxes Road, has said that despite our neutral submission we "...are always welcome to land in our front paddock by the way - the old pony won't mind."
Nepal paragliding
A whole pile of people from Wellington have been in Nepal and India during October and November. Colin Iles, Ken Anderson and Andy Maloney took part in the Himalayan Open in Bir during early November (see results and photos), then went on a paratrek with Sunrise Paragliding in Pokhara, Nepal. (Pokhara is famous for parahawking). Chris Pugsley learnt to paraglide with Sunrise Paragliding and will soon be joining WHGPC! Jugdeep Aggarwal, a former club member now living Silicon Valley, California was at Bir, and Fiona Dalziel, a kiwi pilot now living in England, was at Pokara.
"Average" summer in the wind The Dominion Post, 2 December 2004
AS THE mercury touched 26 degrees in Napier and Hastings on the first day of summer, a prominent forecaster predicts most of the country can expect an "average" summer. Warm conditions yesterday -- when Masterton and central Wellington hit 23C and Palmerston North 19C -- are not an indication of the weather we can expect for the rest of summer. Bob McDavitt from MetService said extreme weather like that summer, including the disastrous February floods, was most unlikely. Conditions in the south and west of the country would be wet and cool, while it would be dry and sunny in the north and east. Temperatures, sunshine hours and rainfall in most areas would be close to normal. The weather would be warmest in late January and early February, and the most settled be in March. "It'll be a pretty average summer." However, Mr McDavitt said ultra-violet levels would be very high. People should ensure they were well protected before heading out into the sun. New Zealand's weather would be dominated by a weak El Nino pattern, which would ensure fewer tropical weather systems than normal making their way to our shores. Conservation Department ecologist John Sawyer said this summer should be an amazing flowering season for pohutukawa. However, he said that pohutukawa flowering in abundance did not necessarily mean a dry sunny summer. WEB SITES - GENERAL
Surf weather site - includes links to other sites that may or may not be useful!!!
Thermal maps - would it work here in NZ?
Whitby weather - maybe a useful site for determining whether to go out and fly?
Base jumping into a cave!
HANG GLIDING WEB SITES
Giants of Rio - you will need a broadband connection, fast PC or Mac [1GHZ] and a current version of Windows Media Player to view the stream.
Seagull - the shape of the future?
More links!
If you get through this lot in two months you spend way to much time surfing!
PARAGLIDING WEB SITES
Australian Bright Paragliding Open 2005 will be held from the 19th to the 26th of February, 2005
Martin Rossel: interview with PWC World Champ
Skynch - self winching paragliders!
South African comps in December: All-Africa Open & Porterville Serial Challenge
World Records in Brazil - two new paraglider world records
Email Kris at whgpceditor@backup.net.nz with any news you may have!
"Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned forever skyward, for there you have been, and there you long to return" Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
