Midwinter gliding and paragliding competitions
Competitions at Takaka Hill at the weekend.
The Tasman Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club celebrated the winter solstice by holding a fly-in on Takaka Hill last Sunday.
Over 20 paraglider and 10 hang glider pilots took advantage of the clear midwinter conditions to launch their crafts from the top of the Hill overlooking Upper Takaka.
Club president Lyn Watkins said that they had originally planned a fun competition for the longest flight, longest cross country and a spot landing, which involved landing on a 3 x 4-metre tarpaulin. A number of people got into the competition spirit and many more had a great day’s flying, but in the end they decided not to hold a prizegiving as it seemed better not to have winners and losers after such a pleasant day.
As the wind on the Hill was light, pilots had to run very fast to take off, and it was difficult for hang gliders to stay in the air for long. However, conditions were perfect for paragliders, and two paraglider pilots even took very excited passengers with them. One pilot, Tony Dickison, flew for over two hours before landing with everyone else in a field at the base of the Hill.
Lyn Watkins said that there was plenty of entertainment in the landing field.
“Colin Iles was one of the few who managed to land on the spot, doing better than many of the younger, more experienced pilots. Another pilot, Clint Fraser, did a great acrobatic display, looping his hang glider a number of times.”
The longest distance flown was by hang glider pilot Rob Bryant, who flew to Pohara and back, but he did have the advantage of having a motor on his harness.
Sarah Milligan
