An Exciting Day Out

By Lionel Page

By Lionel Page

Lionel Page is an instructor with Auckland Aviation Sports Club, based at Whenuapai, where he has been fl ying since 1993. While other clubs get excited about ridge running, AAV love it when the Westerlies blow because they can soar the cliffs along the West Coast. Lionel tells us about his fi rst coast run.

One Saturday in the middle of October the wind was blowing hard. I had looked at the Met Service report the night before, which mentioned 25 - 30 knot NW winds, turning to SW through the day. I wondered if a run down the West Coast would be on. So when I turned up at Whenuapai and saw Dave Foxcroft at the gate, I knew an attempt was on. It would appear that Lionel Page and Dave Todd had the same thoughts.

We did some last minute weather checks and managed to convince the towie to come out and take some idiots up in these strong winds, while we prepared our mighty steeds.

After rigging and DI’s were completed, we lined four gliders up on the grid. Dave F in the PW5 went fi rst, I followed in the Astir. Mr Rook (towie extraordinaire) negotiated some squally showers on the way out and dropped us off at Bethells Beach. I do recall the comment from our towie, who said, “I do not have enough fuel to go to Australia,” as we hit the coast. I assumed this meant I needed to release from my yellow security blanket.

I was instantly in lift at 2500 ft and found Dave miles below me, to-ing and fro-ing up the coast between Piha and Muriwai. We waited about an hour for the others to be towed out. A messy, squally shower had delayed their launches. However, time passes quickly when you absorb the spectacle of the West Coast beaches, cliffs and the power of the sea.

With the gaggle fi nally together, we proceeded south, where we ridge soared at 90-100 knots along the cliffs. Lionel and Dave

Gliders involved were a PW5, Kestrel, Mosquito, Astir. Pictures were taken off a Go Pro video camera.

Todd screamed ahead and made the leap across the Manukau Heads. Dave F and I followed at 1800 ft. Halfway across we were down to 1400 and by the time we reached the other side, we were at around 800ft. Although the gap is not massive, the wild unforgiving seas below make this puddle jump a tad nerve wracking. The lads in front confi rmed the other side was defi nitely working.

I passed the PW5 on the way over, who was slightly lower but comfortable. It is always good to see someone lower than yourself. Hitting the other side and rocketing along the cliff tops is an exhilarating experience. I was a tad conservative, keeping a little further above the fascinating, gigantic craggy sand dune cliffs that have a green grass carpet on top than others might have. The ride down was surprisingly smooth and I could push out from the coastline and still be in lift. We reached the mouth of Port Waikato, where one has to get a climb to 1800 ft to then make a comfortable crossing to the cliffs. The PW5 was not able to achieve this desired height; Dave T in the Kestrel kindly came back and escorted me across, so I got the experience of making the crossing. We then decided we would return as a group to Whenuapai, rather than proceed to Raglan. This was a team fl ight so we would stay together.

While I gathered some height, Lionel became my buddy and Dave Todd followed VF North. I left the cliffs at Port Waikato at 2000 ft and made it comfortably back to the coastline, then we screamed north up the coast. You could see the sand twirling up the cliffs. Once again the ride was smooth and MP sounded like a jet at 100 knots.

The two Daves had made the jump at the Manukau heads. Lionel and I were about to commence the run, when a squally shower came in over Whatipu, with another one behind us. Dave Todd advised that we should delay our crossing, so Lionel and I turned back and waited for the weather to clear. When we did get to do it, the reverse puddle jump was fi ne and although you are lower at the Whatipu end, the climb up the cliffs ensures that you are not going to land out.

The two Daves had proceeded from Muriwai back to Whenuapai at this point. Lionel and I made our way up the coast to the bowl at Muriwai. At 2100 ft we headed for home. This is where we hit the most severe turbulence that I have experienced. The downwind and landing approach was challenging and rough, as the wind packed more punch. The turn onto base leg became a massive skidding turn, and movement over the ground became a crawl to the fi nish line. However we got all safely home, we packed up and had a wee ‘fanta’ to assist with debriefi ng.

For me it was a most momentous fl ight. One of the best I have experienced. I have been fortunate to fl y the Southern Alps, which was special, but this trip was equally as exciting - fl ying fast along the rugged coastline. Thanks to my fl ying companions for their guidance and support, and our ground and launching crews.