October newsletter

15 October 2015

Dear fellow pilot

Spring is well and truly here. Wave, thermals and convergences are appearing Hawkes Bay.

The 2016 Central Districts Championships are to be held from Waipukurau Aerodrome from Sunday 14th to Saturday 20th February 2016 inclusive with Saturday 13th available as a practice day.

It is time to consider planning your participation. If we believe the long term weather forecast, it is going to be a hot, dry summer here in Hawkes Bay. Good thermals and wave should be the norm.

We urge clubs and private owners to seriously consider entering. Ask others who have been to Waipukurau in the past - it is a good fun contest in an area with plenty of options of large, safe paddocks in the unlikely event of a land out. A number of quality daily prizes are being put together. If you have no crew, that is no problem - others will help as required.

The airfield at Waipukurau has been booked and we already have some committed entries. The contest director will be Neil Faulknor with weatherman, task setter and scorer Graham White. This is Graham’s home area and he understands the soaring options well. Tasks will be set to take into account both the newer cross country pilots and the guns.

If you want to experience the area beforehand, it may be possible for an experienced instructor to fly with you in one of our club two seaters or to accompany you in a single seater on the weekends before the contest. Feel free to discuss the options with our club.

Club members - if you want to experience a fun contest, motivate your club to bring a two seater along with members and an instructor. It is well worth your while.

As usual, to help plan towplanes, early advice of entry is much appreciated. Plus, you save $40 on the entry fee if you enter and pay on or prior to 10th January 2016. An entry form is attached and also available on the club web site www.glidinghbw.co.nz/links

There are plenty of accommodation choices to suit every pocket from camping on the aerodrome itself to cabins at local camping grounds, motels and hotels etc. Being only 30 minutes from Hastings, there are plenty of options for after hours activities for all, including the other half.

Further information is available at http://cdchamps.blogspot.co.nz/ and this will be updated as time progresses.

So, put the dates of this contest (Sunday 14^th to Saturday 20th February 2016 inclusive with Saturday 13th available as a practice day) on your calendar and plan for a great fun trip to Hawkes Bay this summer.

We need support from all clubs to help revitalise the sport. Please pass this on to all your members.

2016 Entry form

A 2016 entry form is available at http://www.glidinghbw.co.nz/links.html

Watch this space for newsletters and further information.

2016 Central Districts Championships

The dates for the 2016 championships have been set as Saturday 13th February (practice day) through to Saturday 20th February. They will again be based at Waipukurau Airfield.

Plan now to come and enjoy some great Hawkes Bay flying in a friendly, low key competition.

Further information and an entry form will be available closer to the event.

Saturday 21st February 2015

We waited on the ground but unfortunately the conditions prevented setting a task. However, most pilots had a flight in the local area. There was a westerly with large areas of overdevelopment and a limited soarable area. This was a pity because thermals in the area were 6-800ft/min to 6,000ft for two hours or so. Some pilots found limited wave west of the field with convergence in the east for 20km or so. Later in the afternoon rain showers pushed through with the front with a late clearance and a temperature still around 25°C.

After what turned out to be a great week of flying with at least local flying possible every day, the Keith Cammock and Craig Hunter combination won the PW5 contest, Ross Taylor was the top club class pilot and Graham White retained the Open/Standard class titles. Daily open class tasks and scores are on Soaring Spot at http://www.soaringspot.com/cds2015/.

With thermals every day and well set tasks resulting in only three landouts all competition over all classes, this shows the great flying conditions available in Hawkes Bay. In the unlikely event of a landout being required, there are many large fields available as safe landing areas.

Thanks to contest director Neil Faulknor, weatherman, task setter and scorer Graham White, tow pilots and all the helpers. Thanks also to our sponsors Centralines and New World Waipukurau. A great thank you is also due to Margaret Keir, the master chef, who spoiled all present with two fantastic steak meals which were much appreciated by all who attended . We hope to see more pilots and hanger ons for next years event. At prize giving, Tony van Dyk challenged all those present to bring at least one extra person next year whether they be a pilot or volunteer to help on the ground. Other Central Districts gliding clubs are also asked to help support the running of their local event.

Friday 20th February 2015

Yes! four competition days in a row which wasn't the long term forecast for the week. An earlier start was had as sea breezes were forecast for later in the day. Thermals to 5,000ft to start then up to 6,000ft in the higher country to the west had everyone out on track early and around the top turn before the sea breeze effect had arrived there. The sky looked good as far as one could see in any direction so maybe a longer task may have been possible but would have made it hard at the end as the sea breeze convergence moved well inland. Some pilots ran down the ranges again towards the southern turn where the choice was back up the middle of the plains or deviate to the convergence in the east. As it turned out, the convergence was the better choice although not by a huge margin. Most pilots were on final glide from the second to last turn but the easterly and sinking air on the other side of the convergence was there to catch out the unwary. A group dinner out together in the evening, held today as most pilots depart after flying tomorrow, was a great way to round off a very pleasant day.