Hawkes Bay Regional Paragliding Comp

Hawkes Bay Regional Paragliding Comp 2021

The comp kicked of on Thursday 7 January 2021 at Burma Road south of Hastings. Unfortunately thick clouds meant no thermal activity, but there was a gentle breeze up the face, so a spot landing competition was organised. 1st equal were Aaron Chesterman and mal Haskins, 2nd was Elliot Revell-nash.

Day two was cancelled due to thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon.

Day three we headed to Turiri, which is south of Waipukurau. We arrived onto the tops shrouded in cloud, so we engaged in a long session of parawaiting. Eventually conditions improved sufficiently for pilots to take to the skies, but the furthest that anyone got was about 13km - congratulation to Steven Christophers.

Day four: we assembled in Havelock North in a light drizzle and then headed up Te Mata Peak. Eventually the clouds broke and a sunny day ensued. A large number of paragliders then entertained a large number of people on the top of the peak for before thermals plucked about half the field skywards and along the course line.

Aaron Chesterman made the greatest distance of 36.2km and was only a few kilometres short of landing in his home paddock. (https://xc.highcloud.net/ tracklog_map.html?trackid)958&comP k07&tasPk38)

The reserve day was triggered for the

Above, Getting up at on the cliffs at Te Mata Peak

Right; launching at Te Mata Peak

Below; Mandatory briefing at HQ (Nick Websters house)

Hawkes Bay Regional Paragliding

By Kris Ericksen

Right; Flying the convergence from Te Mata

Above, Aarons track for task 2 in dark blue

Above right; Bex Rae on glide from Te Mata

Right; Soaring at Turiri

Monday and remaining pilots headed out to Burma Road again. However, after an extended period of parawaiting in the hot Hawkes Bay sun it was cancelled due to strong winds on launch.

Reference links:

Race results: http://xc.highcloud.net/ task_overview.html?comPk07

Airtribune: https://airtribune.com/ hawkes-bay-regional-2021/info

Task 1: Turiri - https://xc.highcloud.net/ task_result.html?comPk07&tasPk37

Task 2: Te Mata Peak - https:// xc.highcloud.net/task_result. html?comPk07&tasPk38

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