Central Plateau Contest

Report and photographs Ross Gaddes

As the first competition of the season approached those of us intending to attend were keen but a little apprehensive. This early in the season can be dicey and this particular season (in Auckland at least) has been slow to start. However a good high system started to move onto the North Island at just the right time and unbelievably the first day dawned sunny and many smiling pilots were to be seen at the field.

The usual safety briefings and introductions to the officials were held and soon we were on our way. At the final count we had six in Club Class and thirteen in the Fast Class. This event is suited to those entering their first competition so those attending made a good mix of experience levels. It is really great to see young (and some not so young) keen pilots chatting and gaining knowledge from such experienced pilots as Ian Finlayson, Trev Terry and Tony Timmermans who are only too willing to give pointers to those with much less knowledge. I have just listed the turnpoints so check them out on the map and you’ll see we get to fly over some interesting countryside around here. Also notice the tasks had quite big circles to cope with the assortment of skill and glider performance and it seemed to work well, at least in this low key comp.

On the 1st day Roland Van der Val our weatherman expected moderate to good soaring so the task was set as an AAT task — 202 Start B - 179 Kawerau - 154 Boyd A/S - 120 Te Awa C - 301 Finish N Task length: 202.2km/394.3km.

Once in the air it was apparent that this day was better than Roland’s forecast. Six knot’s before the start and about 7000' base was fairly easy to obtain. Also reports from Vaughn Ruddick in Zulu One (who just visited for a few days) confirmed that conditions on task were booming.

Anyone who has flown Taupo before will know that the area can be quite daunting, especially as this task takes pilots through some scary landscapes and large forest areas. Trev’s advice to run between landout areas made sense as I crossed Kiangaroa and Murupara into the higher country in the Rangataiki Plains. Most got around the tasks in the fast class, but none in Club, but all had a great time and reports of 10kt thermals and 7000ft bases were common. Geoff Gaddes managed his second ever outlanding (in about as many xc flights) at Rewewhakaatu with Hadleigh Bognuda there to keep him company. Peter Ryan 170km (XD) won Club and Stu Cameron 341km(KZ) won the Fast class.

The next day still looked at least as good and Roland was on a roll — 201 Start A - 159 Old Taup - 192 Matamata - 153 Pureora - 301 Finish N Task length: 183.3km/318.0km

I wish I felt as good about this day as some, I crapped out at Arohena coming back from Matamata and trying to cross a very blue gap. The only thing to give me comfort was the drone of Trev’s engine starting directly above as I watched Stu land a kilometre or so away. However those that scratched away or made a more intelligent decision (Ian Fin) got around and had a great flight. Bhrent Guy (UY) won Club and that sly sea breeze specialist Ian Finlayson (ZO) collected the Fast prize.

Another fine day, are we spoilt or what! Roland was starting to grin — 201 Start A - 175 Waiohau - 120 Te Awa C - 153 Pureora - 301 Finish N Task length: 153.8km/393.8km

The trip to Waiohou in the west was not as good as conditions were on the earlier days but still really good soaring was had in fine sunny weather. The western side of Pureora had a great convergence which I personally enjoyed immensely only turning back after realising how hostile the countryside was underneath. Bhrent Guy in Club was the only to finish and so won his class and Ian Fin narrowly beat Stu Cameron in Fast Class.

The next day turned very blue and some went flying and had a lot of fun. The rest of us took a break and did some touring, which is not so bad in a place such as Taupo.