Hang gliding from Catherin Hill Billy Bay to Budgewoi is no record flight or is it the first time it has been attempted, but yesterday's conditions beckoned a new coastal distance challenge, east north east wind, going around north east 15-18 knots with visual indicators of instability might have be enough to get all the way to Norah Head, a stretch of that has not yet been achieved.
I didn't make it there and landed well short along Budgewoi dunes, but lets imagine the conditions could sooner or later prevail that will permit the extra distance.
I lost interest in flying north east conditions around my local area years ago, due to sites that I though offered not much more than parking in strong lumpy conditions at dodgey takeoff's landing areas, when usually my summer afternoons could be better spent as wind often increases and turns more north later in the day, coupled with a few rough landings at Fraser beach this became less attractive to fly there, so what has changed, maybe a new found perspective on what, where, when or why.
As for or myself soaring sport has been and will always be mostly and intrinsic challenge to maintain and grow the skills to soar, wether, competition, recreationally coastal or inland x/c, nothing more, the eagle does not need a compass and variometer nor does he have the internet to tell him when and where to fly and the eagle does not live with mythical fear or obligations, yet is often seen being playful and enjoying himself during the act of survival, though steely eyed and focused on his goal.
One day long ago when sharing the air with the eagles at Fraser park in east north east conditions, I wast so high above the take off area that i had to ask myself a question, am I still at Fraser park..? well my car was there, so guess where I eventually landed and after a glorious afternoon floating around above the immediate location.
In past many successful return and one way flights along the coastal stretch have been made over the years to Catho and Caves beach, but I also ike to press that this is in Hang gliding terms a potentially hazardous area in the wrong conditions, or if mistakes of judgement are made, rocks water and rotary coves are not hang glider friendly and things that over extrinsicaly motivated or complacent pilots could encounter, I have seen a pilot narrowly avoid an almost certainly fatal crash into rocks, another narrowly avoid a water landing and have had a low save myself, as well as top pilots bombing out on rock shelves due to winter catabatic wind and lift band bubble, so be warned and maybe rate these type of flights as advanced adventurous and with local experiance only.
Yesterdays flight started at Catho after checking conditions at Fraser park and the Catho surf club along the way to ensure I was familiar with everything committing to a flight that has possible point of not return, this was going to be a one way trip down the coast.
Due to fires clearing the fauna at Catho, launching into stronger north east wind about 15-20 degrees off the point is much improved and soon gained 150 feet to the left befor turning cross tail towards the surf club passing over the pine trees by 30 feet and getting there at hill height, as arriving there low could mean encountering rotor from the pier if the wind is more east, a past experience that means an early and abrupt landing, but this time managed to over fly that and reach the main hill and stronger lift, soaring with a few feathers types until enough height to jump across the bay onto Moonie where bubbles were popping off the rock shelf in front and a slow climb tin ridge lift that was sometimes lagging due to the bubbles interacting with the wind and gained the necessary height to make almost the glide to Fraser park via Snapper rocks, hazards could have included rotor from Monnie and Snapper causing a rough landing at Fraser beach if the wind were going too north or not enough height to get back to Gosties, rocks and water, so got as high as possible and didn't leave Moonie until i could see it was a clearly makable glide path.
A prudent decision to land at Moonie and the walk the glider out here certainly better than that of a desperate attempt to glide past safety and see what happens next, if not enough height could have been gained, as always a time and place for virulence and careful judgement.
Gliding high in clean air I turned briefly into lifted above Snapper and could have possibly spent more time there but my sights were mostly set, next stop Fraser and a reliable solid lift band in the bowl, variometer beeping with bubbles and eagles showing lift lines out to sea, a pleasant time to look around and visualise the landscape devastation from fires and enjoy the view as it takes time to gain the height and wait for something special to make the next glide as far as possible towards Norah Head.
I'm still not a huge fan of landing on Fraser beach and on earlier inspection that day there was a massive washout across the sand from storm water and only the southern end of the beach free from possible turbulence in that direction, whilst quite a height is required to glide far enough south along Birdie so land clear of rotor from Fraser, something else to think about.
I waited at the top of the lift band for some time but only the occasional beep here and there as I flew in and out of slow rising air then turned tail and ran south at minimum sink searching out any possible chance to stay in lift or reduce sink and make more distance and contacted lift from the dunes and landed at Budgewoi and packed up asap, there is a public drinking establishment near there and soon after Lyn and I went for a pleasant drive up to Catho and retrieved my vehicle, thanks Gorgeous, guess otherwise it's not too far to hitch a ride along Elizabeth bay drive and the highway north to conclude the afternoons activity.
Maybe it takes something special to make the final stretch to Norah Head and continue soaring, more performance, skill or maybe nature holds the key to that part of the flight, perhaps the eagle knows and I will enjoy that challenge.
Cameron aka NHGC Rusty Wires.
