Sunday 25th May 2014

No flying due to rain and sleet all day. However we took the opportunity to remove winch's old dyneema and replace with new. Thanks to JR, Phil, Roy, and Brian for splicing duties, and Geoff for the spool winder and old drum.

Sunday 18th May 2014

We were desperately optimistic we'd miss the forecast front, surely it would split and leave us with the wave that was pumping early AM? Pete and Vivienne organised an early (for us) tow of 11am  from Gary. Mt Cook beckoned! John arrived at 10 and rigged AND watered KG. Phil got KJ ready too. By the time P+V launched in JW there were spits on the ground. They released in drizzle and found little, returning after 30 mins. John decided to leave KG on the airfield and we all went mountain biking for a couple of hours. The rain came and went and the wave vaporized.

Just as well we never got airborne earlier as we'd have made it north with no chance of getting back. Thanks to Gary for the one tow in the lumpy conditions.

Sunday 11th May

The forecast was for light winds and a chance of weak wave late in the day. Unfortunately the wave really didn't arrive till the next day so we basically missed out. However we were all keen to go hunting and we did get some soaring. There was a little lift over Earnscleugh that kept Allen and Doug (JW) up for 45 mins. Phil also had a delayed descent. Brian discovered some weak ridge lift on the Translator Ridge and was joined by John. They managed to hang in for a couple of hours, finally topping out above Leaning Rock. A final look over the back of the Dunstans proved futile. Thanks to Russell for the all-important tows to high levels.

Hard work sharing weak lift on Dunstans

Sunday May 4th 2014

 At midday the sky was overcast and wave was evident, although with a forecast of 30k Northerly at 10,000’ the chances of contacting the wave looked slim. After a re-light Phil (KJ) managed to climb in strong rotor from 3500’ over Waikerikeri and was soon at 6000’ and made the transition into the main wave. Doug/Roy, in JW, also had a relight and using KJ as a marker they were soon established in 4-5knots up.  Phil went East to Omakau where the wave petered out so then returned and went West and met up with Doug and Roy over the Old Man (they went nearly to Queenstown). It was blowing 40k Northerly at 12000’ and the wave was surprisingly good considering the wind direction. We landed after 2hrs or so, rather cold but smiling. Just shows that it pays to just give it a go sometimes! Many thanks to Russell for the aerotows.