Mission From Moir's

Wayne, Anand, Andy, and myself launched not long after 1pm into a reasonable 25 km/hr WSW. An inkling that the sea-breeze had arrived was later to be confirmed. It was looking promising, but there were no fluffy cu, or other favourable tell-tales. So we spent between 1 and 2 hours going back and forward along the ridge hoping for the lift that would take us over the back, it wasn't to be. Upwind I rode the speed bar most times, and downwind I was able to clock around 60 km/hr without it. The occasional bubble would come through but tended to be broken and rough, not enough to latch on to and in the end I went too far out in front losing the ridge and sinking out. A few attempts at a low save only served to delay my demise and I eventually landed in the bomb-out paddock after a 53 minute uninspiring flight. Leonardo Flight Link

Been up to Moirs a couple of times in February and March, but ended up either no wind or too much. Finally got to launch today in what turned out to be increasing winds. Swung Westerly and cranked up, blowing any thermals away and creating quite a bit of turbulance out front. At one point had a 50% asymmetric, which was, let's say, "exciting". After getting shoved around for 50 minutes landed out front. Looks like that was the last flight of my season. Leonardo Flight Link

Took the Aussie Bros up for a look at what I do. Very little in the way of thermal activity, but managed a glide to the bomb-out paddock after the guests took some photos.

Looks a possibility, maybe a little strong, but what the heck let's go have a look. Arriving at launch it is marginal, steady 22-25 km/hr min 15 max 30 ish. Sit and see if it changes. It does, strengthening slightly to 33 max, and swinging once again to the SE. Steve Dwyer and Les Graham turned up to show me how Hangies do it, and although Steve launched and soared for a while, Les didn't have a good day. The clouds finally gave up and so did I.

Well this is the most pilots I have ever seen at Moirs at one time, at least 10 PG and 2 HG. Conditions are looking pretty good although it is forecast to swing to the SE later. An earlier rather than later launch is the plan. One drawback to so many on launch is the waiting for others to launch. Some are getting some good height but it appears no-one has gone over the back. Once we are all in the air it becomes interesting as we effectively spread out in search of the lift, some getting reasonable height for while then suddenly appearing back at the ridge, but it is not to be, after about 45 minutes what lift there is suddenly shuts down and those not able to top land end up down on the LZ paddock. Only 2 or 3 of the usual suspects manage to flick over the back for some reasonable distance, the rest of us are left pondering what happened.

Once again it looks promising. At launch it is stronger than I hoped, and slightly off to the South East. Nick Stead arrives and we sit contemplating the chance of getting airborne. It doesn't look good. We decide to give it away and go see if we can christen a new SE site to the South of Moirs. Unfortunately the land owner is nowhere to be found, so the opportunity slips by until another time.

It looked good earlier on, lovely cloud street from the Waitakeres north over Moirs. Unfortunately by the time I got to launch the street had gone and the wind had crept up. Dave Austin (HG) made an appearance after I had muffed a couple of launches in what was top of my range conditions. He had launched earlier and flew for about half an hour before it died and forced him to bottom land, during which he twisted his ankle. Still he climbed back up the hill to show me his swollen ankle, watch me try and get blown over the back, and fetch his car. Luckily I managed to kill my wing before disappearing in to the valley behind, unfortunately it took a little while to untangle it from the bushes. While contemplating my next step, Jeff Ripley turned up, he reckoned it was a goer, yeah right. Here's the NZ Champ., I'm sure if he can fly I can :) The wind is now steady at somewhere between 15 and 20 knots probably gusting higher. He launches, has a collapse a few metres out, corrects, a...