Thursday 31 January 2019

Murchison Update

For the keen, go to www.airtribune.com for live tracking and scores as they guys publish them. Props to Andrew McKirdy and Tom Mulder of the DFC who are processing the scoring after a day's flying. 

Briefly:

Saturday: Blown out

Sunday: Blown out on Mt Murchison, so the competition migrated to Havelock in the Marlborough Sounds. A steep launch on a spine pointed straight into a 20 kph westerly. Clean launches were made by most straight into strong lift with the bonus of a thermal if you were lucky. Ollie Chitty and others launched straight into 1000fpm and climbed out to around 5000 asl. The task was a cats cradle in the Sounds, with a good handful in goal. The 160 km drive each way down and back up through the fohn which blew down the Wairau Valley from Nelson Lakes to Blenheim made it all worth it. The Sounds hill country provided adequate shelter from the prevailing winds. Ollie Chitty's video tells it all:




Monday: Blown out, as the forestry guys didn't want us back at Havelock - too hot and dry. It reached 36 degrees in the Sounds. 

Tuesday: Up Mt Murchison with light winds on top, alternately cycling up the steep N side or the shallow S side. The task went north to Lookout Peak, roughly the same height as launch, and hen east across the low forested hills on to the Beeby range south of Inwoods Lookout, one of the Nelson SW sites. Then on to a turn point at the Rainbow Ski Field on top of the St Arnaud Range, followed by a glide out over the lake into wind to the gliding airstrip west of the town. Those who could climb to 7500' on the St Arnauds got to goal, those who set off at 6500' landed short. Significantly, John Smith and Ollie Chitty didn't get a climb out on the Beeby Range and fell short - this is the first time Smithy hasn't made goal, and he now has a 400 point handicap to overcome to retain his title. 
Ollie's Video:  

Wednesday: Light SW, with a task into wind, south down the Matakitaki, then east into the Tutaki Valley, and back north to a landing at the Murchison end of the Tutaki. A number made goal. I think Ollie was first in. The day stayed mostly blue, with mixed high cloud, and an impressive wave system setting up 100km downwind over the east coast. 


Thursday: A moderate NW/WNW forecast put paid to Matt Barlow's dreams of a 100 km task down the St Arnaud Range through the big mountains to Hanmer (it's been done only once by hang glider pilots). The risk of an increasing wind made it too risky. As it turned out, it might have worked... The task was basically a run down the Tutaki and back up again. Steven Blackler is currently retaining his lead. The scores should be up on www.airtribune.com not too long after this gets posted.

Scores After 3 tasks

41st New Zealand Hang Gliding Nationals 2019

2019-01-26 to 2019-02-02, FAI Category 2 event

Provisional

Total results

Provisional

Task Date Distance Day Quality
T1 #HavelockToo 2019-01-27 11:00    58.2 km 66% Race to Goal with 4 startgate(s)
T2 Knock The Bastard Off 2019-01-29 12:00    71.3 km 100% Race to Goal with 6 startgate(s)
T3 Tutaki Or Not There Is No Try 2019-01-30 12:00    71.0 km 40% Race to Goal with 6 startgate(s)

# Id Name Nat Glider Sponsor T 1 T 2 T 3 Total
1 30 Steven Blackler M GBR Moyes RX3.5 www.drinkbaotic.co.uk 616 970 361 1947
2 7 Shane Mckay M NZL Moyes S5 594 713 342 1649
3 360 Geoff Christophers M NZL Moyes RX3.5 544 722 310 1576
4 13 John Smith M NZL icaro Laminar 624 553 386 1563
5 40 Derek Mckee M NZL Moyes RS4 418 804 217 1439
6 6 Ollie Chitty M GBR Moyes RX 5 Pro MoyesUK, CrossCountry, X-Wings 531 512 390 1433
7 4921 Ollie Derry M NZL Moyes Rx 3.5 500 675 143 1318
8 14 Grant Tatham M NZL WW T2C 363 733 194 1290
9 1199 Hagen Bruggemann M NZL Moyes RX4 356 640 146 1142
10 53 Pete Helliwell M GBR Aeros Combat L13 316 669 129 1114
11 400 Viv Clements M NZL ICARO Laminar 14.8 Icaro OZ 243 711 149 1103
12 44 Piers Throssell M NZL moyes lightspeed 272 606 145 1023
13 1 Matthew Barlow M NZL Moyes RS4 305 503 172 980
14 42 Adriel Kind M NZL Moyes Litespeed RX 148 631 143 922
15 4682 Tom Kellner M NZL Aeros Combat GT IBL 122 611 146 879
16 27 Abe Kemp M NZL Moyes Litespeed S4 Cool Logic 122 611 129 862
17 191 Leslie Graham M NZL Wills Wing T2c 305 359 171 835
18 420 Andrew McKirdy M NZL Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5 271 415 129 815
19 2652 Carlos Palmer M NZL Willswing T2C 148 481 129 758
20 96 Steve Bankier M NZL Moyes Lightspeed S4 Trailer skip hire 251 333 129 713
21 604 Glenn Meadows M NZL Wills Wing T2C 254 241 185 680
22 611 Thomas Mulder M NZL Moyes RX5 PRO 122 359 129 610
23 62 Fraser Bull M NZL Moyes Litesport 251 216 129 596
24 5271 Steve Cronin M NZL Moyes Gecko 250 216 129 595
25 69 Ian Miller M NZL Wills Wing T2C 166 243 129 538
26 777 Craig Manktelow M NZL Moyes RX5 178 216 129 523
27 20 John Burton M NZL Wills Wing T2 144 172 216 129 517
28 9 Shane Morton M NZL Aeros Discus 159 216 129 504
29 99 Gary Turner M NZL Airborne Sting 2XC 158 216 129 503
30 4611 Don Cramer M AUS Moyes RX5 Pro St George Engineering. 156 216 129 501
31 21 Neville Marinko M NZL WW U2-160 149 216 129 494
32 5058 Andrew Sinclair M NZL Moyes RS4 148 216 129 493
33 301 Rick Hawkeswood M NZL Wills Wing T2C 144 122 216 142 480
34 2019 John Urlich M NZL Airborne C4 13.5 122 216 129 467
34 22 Henning Kruger M NZL Airborn Fun 122 216 129 467
34 10 Aaron Darby M NZL Wills Wing Sport 2 122 216 129 467
37 315 Dave Austin M NZL Aeros CombatL13 0 249 129 378
38 86 Donald Payne M NZL Airborne Fun 2 190 153 216 0 369
39 801 Ian Bowie M NZL Wills wing T2C 0 226 129 355
40 4108 Kenneth Mitchell M NZL Aeros Discus 0 216 129 345
40 3 Robin Cambell M NZL Moyes Rs4 0 216 129 345
40 2 Rod Stuart M NZL Moyes RX5 Tropicool 0 216 129 345
40 1996 Maya Korth F NZL Airbourne Sting 2XC 0 216 129 345
44 35 Mark Patton M NZL Wills Wing T2C 174 0 0 174
45 3628 Kirk Milligan M NZL Wills Wing U2 145 0 0 0 0
Report created: 2019-01-30T22:53:31+13:00

FS development, maintenance and support by

Tuesday 22 January 2019

What's App

If you're coming to the comp it may pay to install this app on your phone if you don't already have it.

There's a good chance the app will get used for retrieves etc, so long as you're in an area that has cell reception.

Monday 14 January 2019

The Nationals on Airtribune

Thanks for registering to attend the 2019 Nationals. 

A quick message for all who are attending the 2019 Hang Gliding nationals including all who have registered or intend to register.

Short request is that you sign up to Air Tribune and register for the event through the following link. More information is below for those who would like to know more.

This year we intend to include more technology in our event to run it more smoothly, make information readily available online to pilots and other participants and also to incorporate live tracking and to make the event more accessible to people who are interested in following the event remotely. The key facilitator for this is Air Tribune. You can easily find our event by going to https://airtibune.com and looking under upcoming events.

Air tribune allows us to keep all event information in one place and up to date. There is event information and photos and each day the task will be uploaded and visible on the map. Air tribune enables live tracking which will allow remote enjoyment of the event and also facilitate drivers in following and finding their pilots. Pilots can use their own spot trackers or use the Air Tribune tracking app on their cellphone (subject to coverage). We are also looking into some options for providing satellite trackers for those who don’t have them.

We believe using Air Tribune will significantly enhance our event making it visible to the outside world and hopefully encouraging other international pilots to consider getting themselves over here for not only this event but future nationals.

Lastly, Track Me NZ are keen to sponsor our Nationals by loaning Spot Trackers to any pilot that needs them.  This means the live tracking will be much better.  Can all pilots please confirm with Matt Barlow whether or not you have a Spot Tracker so Matt can confirm the number of trackers needed for the comp.

Thanks and see you there!

Matt Barlow

Saturday 5 January 2019

Interislander Discount Rates 2019

GROUP RATES QUOTED FOR
NZ Hang Gliding & Paragliding Assn
Interislander are pleased to support the NZHGPA for 2019 with the attached discounted fares.
 
Group Booking Reference                           FA5650
The below rates are based on prices to date, inclusive of GST and subject to availability.
 
Peak Fares                                       Each Way
Adult                                                       $52.00
Premium Lounge                                    $55.00 - 18 yrs plus
Child                                                       $25.00
Car/Trailer/Van/4x4
Vehicle up to 5.5m                                 $137.00
Additional 0.5m                                      $22.00
Campervan/Motorhome
Vehicle up to 5.5m                                 $170.00
Additional 0.5m                                      $42.00
 
Peak Travel Dates: 19 Jan to 28 Feb, 18-23 April

Group Booking conditions and instructions for members are:

Each reservation must be made direct with Interislander –
  • https://www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/interislander/book/fares-and-discounts/group-bookings/Entering FA5650 in Group code box
  • Every reservation will be given an expiry/payment date, required to be paid in full by that date
  • Space is subject to availability at the time of the booking request
  • All bookings for vehicles over 3.5 tonne need to be made by contacting Commercial Vehicles on 0800 660-670.  Price advised at time of booking.
  • Membership card is to be shown at check in or retail fares will be charged.  Membership card is to be in the name of the person travelling.
  • Fares valid for travel through to 15 December 19
  • Prices are subject to change with notification

NB Bluebridge rates are cheaper but you will need to book now - they have fewer slots.