SOUTH ISLAND REGION GLIDING CONTEST By Jill McCaw
17 - 14 NOVEMBER 2012 The ‘Regionals’ have always been a bit special for me. I had my first introduction to South Island flying, South Island pilots, Omarama, and my husband John, at this contest back in November 1988. Many things have changed over the years but the vagaries of gliding contest weather isn’t one of them. Practice Day this year was raining. The weather however was playing ball and improved throughout the week. I think this is the first contest I can remember where we could have had seven flying days, although the last day - that was finally cancelled - would have been marginal.
DAY TWO
DAY ONE
Day winners: Open/18m Std/15m Club Class
Day One was an interesting day, with SW winds, some wave, and a few showers. Tim Hardwick-Smith, a North Island pilot, completed his first ever contest task today in very credible fashion, in spite of unfamiliar territory and conditions. There were many land-outs and land-backs, so Tim did really well to get around. Day winners: Open/18m Std/15m Club Class
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Grae Harrison George Wills Steven Evans
The wind was still light SW, with a large high pressure area keeping the winds light. The task setters changed to the ‘B’ task, which simply meant adding 20km circles to the original turnpoints, and a time limit. This worked well and had the interesting advantage of bringing everyone home within 45minutes or so of each other. This made watching the finishes much more of a spectator sport. There were only two landouts, both in the standard class. Wal Bethwaite in CC and Alex McCaw in MQ. Alex did the classic Omarama, really regrettable landout – Omakau. This is only about 20 km as the crow flies, but at least fi ve hours on the road to retrieve. Unfortunately the paddock wasn’t suitable for an aero retrieve. Many thanks to Craig Walecki for offering to get him and saving me from doing it. Theo Newfield Tony van Dyk Steven Evans
DAY THREE The wind inland was light and variable, with easterlies on the coast and an expected cloudbase of around 7 to 8,000’. The tasks were set well into the mountains, with turn points down around Makaroa and up around Tin Hut. The B tasks, with 20 km circles were put into effect for all classes.
December 2012
12/12/12 10:22 PM
