The RASP forecast was spot on. Winds SW swinging W, base 3G, good thermals.
But only Jeff, John, and myself on launch, go figure!
As usual the two Js launched first, Jeff getting some height occasionally, while John scratched around with his mate "the Hawk" following.
I launched not that long after and reasonably quickly found lift and started circling, climbing just behind launch there seemed to be little drift at this time. Topping out at cloud base of 3000ft, I followed John who had glided off earlier toward Dark Summit. The thermals at times were quite rowdy +-4m/s, and it was a lot of fun trying to locate the core, almost like they were just bubbles popping up without any real thermal type structure.
Meanwhile Jeff was mucking around pushing out in front and to the south of launch.
John and I could only manage a glide over the back, passing through a couple of bubbles, but not latching onto anything. John landed off Perry Road near the Fish Farm, and I glided toward the state highway to land in a big paddock just before it.
My landing was interesting in that when I turned into wind I found I had little penetration and ended up coming down almost vertically, with a couple of lifts on the way. Could have been some sort of venturi created by the row of trees nearby, because the wind wasn't that strong once on the ground.
Jeff managed another first and flew offshore to Motuora Island, just out from the Mahurangi.
Leonardo Flight Link
But only Jeff, John, and myself on launch, go figure!
As usual the two Js launched first, Jeff getting some height occasionally, while John scratched around with his mate "the Hawk" following.
I launched not that long after and reasonably quickly found lift and started circling, climbing just behind launch there seemed to be little drift at this time. Topping out at cloud base of 3000ft, I followed John who had glided off earlier toward Dark Summit. The thermals at times were quite rowdy +-4m/s, and it was a lot of fun trying to locate the core, almost like they were just bubbles popping up without any real thermal type structure.
Meanwhile Jeff was mucking around pushing out in front and to the south of launch.
John and I could only manage a glide over the back, passing through a couple of bubbles, but not latching onto anything. John landed off Perry Road near the Fish Farm, and I glided toward the state highway to land in a big paddock just before it.
My landing was interesting in that when I turned into wind I found I had little penetration and ended up coming down almost vertically, with a couple of lifts on the way. Could have been some sort of venturi created by the row of trees nearby, because the wind wasn't that strong once on the ground.
Jeff managed another first and flew offshore to Motuora Island, just out from the Mahurangi.
Leonardo Flight Link
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