Mission From Moir's

The RASP for the day was a bit of a mish-mash. Cloudy with a Southerly, yet by the time we got to launch we were looking at a certainly cloudy day, some of them quite black and a reasonably strong steady Sou-wester. By the time I was ready to launch, everyone that had, was gone over the back. This was my first flight at Moirs with my new Swing Sensis. Although the wind was gusting strong there were lulls, and I launched during one. The glider was easy to launch and I began my flight looking for the thermal out. It wasn't to be, what thermals still of substance I apparently missed , and my time was spent flying around in broken thermals, only managing to get to 2700ft. Occasionally flying in light rain, I turned and ran when an approaching cloud appeared to be bringing a shower my way. I felt really comfortable under the Sensis and had a pleasant glide to Old Kaipara Road, landing in the fully mown paddock I had used on a previous flight. After packing up I had a short tal...

Today was my best distance flight from Moirs. An Open Distance of 21.4 km, landing at the intersection of Waiteitei and Whangaripo Valley Roads. I should have got further but I think in my eagerness to clear the forestry that is the Dome Valley, I lost my cloud-centric view, instead focusing on the ground and therefore ending up there. The RASP forecast was good, in fact really good. Strong thermal updraft with little wind shear, thermaling height around 5000ft, a good sea-breeze convergence line stretching for a distance to the North, with light winds. When conditions are right for Moirs you always get a good turnout of pilots and today was no acception. Apart from the usual suspects, Ken Jackson and Joe Ward were there, I hadn't seen them for a few years. The RASP indicated a best launch window between 1 and 2 pm, and so it came to pass. Don, Jeff, Graham, Cam and Wayne were first off around 1320hrs, followed by Nick and Robbo at 1330hrs and then Lisa and myself at 13...

Launch It has been a long Winter as far as flying goes, especially since all of the good Spring days seem to fall when I am unavailable. But eventually my day came and the long holiday weekend was my chance. Saturday was forecasted to be the best day of the three, and it looked like we were spoilt for choice with light South-Easterlies, high base and good thermal strength. First choice was Moir Hill, a comfortable site which I had ample knowledge and which in the right conditions can handle light SE, and secondly Bridges which I have never flown, a more technical launch through a narrow cut in trees, but taking SE straight in. Wayne, Evan and Roger opted for Bridges while myself, Don, Kyla, Cam and couple of others opted for good old Moirs. What are they doing? We where expecting a later launch as we had to wait for thermal activity to swing the wind around to up the face for launch. Don was first to go and although I was ready to go with him, I missed-judged the ef...

For what appeared to be a reasonably good forecast, few turned up to launch. I met Don at the Puhoi Pub and we shared the ride to the launch car park. Mark was unloading his hang glider, and we followed him out to launch. It was quite South and while Mark rigged his glider Rodger turned up and we unpacked and got ready to launch. Rodger was first away, and was soon climbing out. Mark launched and unfortunately found nothing. Don was more fortunate and was able to maintain. I held on for a little longer then launched, turned left and got a lift from the spur, I was soon at over 2000ft and drifting northwesterly along the ridge, getting another boost to 2400ft. Flicking north onto the Woodcocks Road ridge I hoped to pick up something more substantial under the clouds that were forming, but they never came to anything. By now I was over the road and flying into blue sky so I headed over toward Dark Summit, but still nothing. Having seen Don land toward the glass-houses I decided...

Arriving at the end of Moir Road, Trisha mentions how hazy it looks. Even she knows that it doesn't bode well for cross-country flying. And so it came to pass, an inversion at 2500ft was going to limit our day. Another good turn-out of pilots, including three hangies. For some reason we all waited for Jeff to launch, and then there was a constant stream until the hillside was almost bare. Launching after a little two-step shuffle, I was soon below launch by 40 metres, pooh, partly from avoiding traffic, but also from a wrong choice, so headed for the righthand spur and found lift back up. The righthand bowl was working best, about half an hour in I got my best thermal which I took to the inversion were I got jostled around hoping to break through. Everyone that went over the back did so with less height, but I lingered hoping to crack 3000ft. In the end I settled for a leisurely fly out over the landing paddock to join the others. The best flight I have had at Moirs for...

Roll Call: Anand Andy Brendan Cameron Chris Don Greg Jeff Lisa Stefan Tony My " predictorater " was indicating a good day, and based on the RASP forecast my plan was to get set and go by Noon. But with what is now becoming a bit of a habit, I hesitated, and as we know "he who hesitates, is lost". Jeff and Don launched just after Noon, and we watched them for far too long, climbing out - over the back. Then Andy checked out the small landing paddock (not) just behind launch, and a couple of us went down to help him untangle his glider. Of course by the time I made the decision to launch the leading "lemmings" were already sinking down to the bomb-out and as much as I tried I couldn't avoid the ground-suck of the landing paddock, joining them after a measly 12 minutes. Bugger! (again) But it was nice to be out there with a great crowd, and to get a flight, short though it was. Leonardo Flight Track