Thursday, 18 February 2016
CAA Inspections...
Here's Mac McCarthy (CAA Inspector) checking out Rod Stuart's glider in the Forestry camp hall in Tapawera on Wednesday. He wants to learn to fly :^)
Results Update
Day 4 results have been updated (and some changes to earlier days). Totals now show tasks 1 - 4. No flying today...
Wednesday
Still waiting on Day 4 scores...
Wednesday: Weather Light drizzle in the morning becoming heavy rain in the afternoon with strong and gusty winds.
No briefing this morning due to weather conditions, so pilots slept in or headed off to Motueka or Nelson to entertain themselves while rain came down.
The campground at Tapawera had a tree fell down and a few tent pegs were pulled out due to high winds but no reports of the inside of tents getting wet.
Late afternoon everyone meet at the Hidden Sculpture Garden Café for the midweek BBQ which Glenn had organised. And I must say he did a great job for a vegetarian. A large box of steak was consumed along with sausages and some fine vegetarian patties for the many vegetarians at this year’s event. The owners of the Café put together an array of salads that were praised by all. Beer and good conversation flowed on into the night.
There is a chance of getting a fly in on Thursday if the winds are not too high.
Wednesday: Weather Light drizzle in the morning becoming heavy rain in the afternoon with strong and gusty winds.
No briefing this morning due to weather conditions, so pilots slept in or headed off to Motueka or Nelson to entertain themselves while rain came down.
The campground at Tapawera had a tree fell down and a few tent pegs were pulled out due to high winds but no reports of the inside of tents getting wet.
Late afternoon everyone meet at the Hidden Sculpture Garden Café for the midweek BBQ which Glenn had organised. And I must say he did a great job for a vegetarian. A large box of steak was consumed along with sausages and some fine vegetarian patties for the many vegetarians at this year’s event. The owners of the Café put together an array of salads that were praised by all. Beer and good conversation flowed on into the night.
There is a chance of getting a fly in on Thursday if the winds are not too high.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Latest (Weds a wet rest day)
From Rod Stuart via Glenn...
Day 2 and 3 we flew tasks that took us over stunning scenery and climbing in the smoothest thermals you can imagine. I missed turn point 2 one day and flew 26km in the wrong direction with the nationals organiser Glenn. We de-rigged, sat under an old oak tree and declared our flight one of the best we had ever had.
We download our track logs at Kohatu Cafe each night and the scorers are doing well. John Smith is leading after 3 rounds but all 38 of us feel like winners with the flying we are getting. 4 rounds are needed to make the competition valid.
Tuesday we might sneak in a fly before 3 days of forecast rain. Saturday looks promising as our last day. A Wednesday night BBQ at the hidden sculpture garden cafe promises to be a lively event.
Saturday night is planned as the prize giving.
Kevin is doing a great job as director. He keeps his briefings short and to the point, is an awesome launch master and at the end of each day accounts for every pilot.
Mt Murchison has stolen the show. I have no doubt that this place will become Mecca for hang gliding in the South Island.
We download our track logs at Kohatu Cafe each night and the scorers are doing well. John Smith is leading after 3 rounds but all 38 of us feel like winners with the flying we are getting. 4 rounds are needed to make the competition valid.
Tuesday we might sneak in a fly before 3 days of forecast rain. Saturday looks promising as our last day. A Wednesday night BBQ at the hidden sculpture garden cafe promises to be a lively event.
Saturday night is planned as the prize giving.
Kevin is doing a great job as director. He keeps his briefings short and to the point, is an awesome launch master and at the end of each day accounts for every pilot.
Mt Murchison has stolen the show. I have no doubt that this place will become Mecca for hang gliding in the South Island.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Monday, 15 February 2016
Day 3 - Mt Murchison
NW wind 10 knots, Cloud base 7500ft.
Task Mt Murchison to Mataki Corner then on to Ten Mile Creek and then back to Murchison Town 61km
A day with clouds and sun and a lot of enthusiasm after a great day yesterday.
Gliders piled off the hill and found great lift in front of the hill and climbed to cloud base. Good height on take-off and a good glide got a lot of pilots into the next thermal.
Unfortunately thermal strength was not what we left on the hill and we had to work hard to get back up.
Further down the valley a lot of pilots got low and did not manage to scratch back up in the weak thermals leaving pilots scattered along the valley towards WPT 1.
The good pilots managed to work the light lift and get further around towards WPT 2. Some pilots landed on the wrong side of the river and had to enjoy the cool water crossing.
Four pilots make it to goal.
The helpful hint for the day was to make sure that your driver knew not to ride the brakes down the hill (the brake fluid boils and they stop working...). One got a bit of a scare and a little damage to the car.
The results will follow as the scorer is having a few problems
Task Mt Murchison to Mataki Corner then on to Ten Mile Creek and then back to Murchison Town 61km
A day with clouds and sun and a lot of enthusiasm after a great day yesterday.
Gliders piled off the hill and found great lift in front of the hill and climbed to cloud base. Good height on take-off and a good glide got a lot of pilots into the next thermal.
Unfortunately thermal strength was not what we left on the hill and we had to work hard to get back up.
Further down the valley a lot of pilots got low and did not manage to scratch back up in the weak thermals leaving pilots scattered along the valley towards WPT 1.
The good pilots managed to work the light lift and get further around towards WPT 2. Some pilots landed on the wrong side of the river and had to enjoy the cool water crossing.
Four pilots make it to goal.
The helpful hint for the day was to make sure that your driver knew not to ride the brakes down the hill (the brake fluid boils and they stop working...). One got a bit of a scare and a little damage to the car.
The results will follow as the scorer is having a few problems
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