Newsletter: January 2005 (Note: all external links open in a new window)
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Hang Gliding League - by Grant Tatham
A week prior to the league Ian Bowie pointed it out to me that the Wairarapa Airshow was the same weekend as the league. Damn poor show, no consultation whatsoever!! This, as well as a somewhat windy forecast made the decision to go to the Hawkes Bay fairly easy, and
after a round of emails, it was on. Saturday morning was fine, windy
in the Wairarapa. Hawkes Bay was fine, lighter winds. With the luxury of
a trike with us, we elected to hill launch the first day. A new HB pilot,
James Powrie experienced a midday drop flight in lifty conditons. Though
somewhat outside his comfort zone, he had an uneventful flight to landing.
Kauahei landing area
20 minutes later, the dusty from hell came through, and picked up most of the gliders on launch. Trevor unfortunately came off worst, with his glider being dumped on the nearest cars racks, puncturing holes in the sail. Another glider was pushed on its wheels 50 yards, then proceeded to loop before being caught. My glider tried to mate with Neils (glider). Neil was standing in his A frame trying to ward it off!
The dusty proved to be the seabreeze front, pouring over the top. The Zola shuffle was on again, why we continue to let this hill do this to us I don't know!
We had set a task to Waipukarau and back, and after launching to the northeast into moderate winds, James Oakley, Andrew Bridger, and the rest of us - Dennis, Rick, Neil, Ross, and myself flew around in lumpy seabreeze air, until Neil got away in a broken thermal, and soon after I stole a thermal off Ross, 100' below me. Sorry Ross, it really was yours! Neil managed 20km in scratchy air, inversion at 2700', and myself about 16km.
Sunday we elected to tow. Conditions were again light winds, a little
cirrus, but clear. Trevor took Andrews partner, Mandira for a ride in
the trike. She came back grinning ear to ear, but Trev informed us that
he was abit worried, thought it was abit rough. For Mandira, ignorance is bliss! However, for us this wasn't so good, as in an hour we were expected to tow in it. After the usual fluffing round, I decided to try and lead the way, and towed in OK air to about 800', releasing into the side of a nice 3-400fpm cycle over the valley. The other guys were taking some time getting going, the wind was very switchy, and tows were abit rough. Ian Bowie turned up this morning, and probably wished he didn't - had a shocker, landing too close for comfort to a concrete trough after a low release. Rick had 3 tows, experiencing various difficulties. Meanwhile I was able watch from over Zolas, at a comfortable temperature in a Tee shirt, while others eventually got up over the hill.
The day started with an inversion at 3600', then it got easier to get through, first to 4500', others reported 6500' at the end of the day. Milkrun down the ridge to Alligator, the first tower. This caught some out though, the thermals were there, but widely spaced. I had a dream run back along to Zolas, then equally as good over to the ridge west of Waipawa. Suddenly I was in different air and the remainder was an extended glide, turnpoint at the Waipukarau railbridge, then in over town searching, and a wimpy escape back towards goal, the tow paddock for another couple of km. Total of about 48km of a 60km task. Neil elected to cross the valley from Alligator to Burma Road, and found himself low, landing at a paddock 100m from the Te Aute Pub. Worst thing was he didn't realise it was there! Andrew Bridger in his Fun, meanwhile, had towed up, and cruised round over Zolas and the tow paddock most of the afternoon, at one stage apparently down to 3-400ft, then back up to 6500'. He then flew the course towards the second turnpoint - Waipukurau, and landed with Ross Mackay, near Waipawa. Very good effort for somone with hours so low. Watch this guy in future.
Some guys raced back to fly Te Mata Peak, which was on with a nice seabreeze. James Oakley scored good airtime, as did Ian, and Mike Christiansen, a PG pilot from Masterton. He had been flying most of the afternoon, landed and bitched and moaned about his sore back. He blamed his harness - I reckon he shouldn't be so much of an airhog! I had raced back also, mainly to launch James Powrie, and James Oakely, but as my gear was there, and others had turned up to assist, I had to fly also! Milky smooth, light cycles to 2500', freedom to fly out over the river. Classic Peak conditions.
Monday, day three of the Wellington Anniversary weekend. Again - clear, light winds. Some had gone back to work. This left just three of us in the towpaddock plus Trev in the trike, and Ian and Mike chancing their hand on the adjacent hill. Trevor had a warmup circuit, then towed Rick over Zolas, releasing in what looked like at least 800fpm. This was at about 12 noon. Neil launched striaght after, working a little to get up on the hill. I towed immediately after, and released in what I thought was reasonable lift.
This proved to be too light, and from 300' over Zolas, I was on the
ground on the west side in a minute. Neil tried to help, directing me
to his 1500fpm cycle down the ridge, but too far, too late. Thanks,
anyway, Neil.
A rushed packup, and great retrieve from Trev the tow pilot/retrieve
driver/batten stuffer/comms manager, and I was set up in the towpaddock by 1.30pm. A quick tow to 400', and release into the cycle in the next paddock, and I'm away again. Similar task, Alligator tower, Waipawa, towpaddock, about 51km. Again, good lift down the ridge to the north of Zolas, and this time into seabreeze convergance. at the tower. Through the washing machine, gripping the basebar with a deathgrip, I got the turnpoint, then bach through the rough air. Nice to outrace the front and get back into inland thermals.
Rick made up for lost time today, getting 1.6km from goal. Neil managed the Waipawa TP, and back abit, I landed short of the Waipawa TP, after the sky closed in with an approaching front.
All in all, it had to be one of my most enjoyable HB leagues, incredible weather, and great group. A big thanks to Trevor Leighton, who helped the rest of us get in the air after having his own glider trashed, and thanks also to Ross Mackay for his help and his Hawkes Bay hospitality.
James at Te Mata Peak
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