A six minute tow to 1900ft above German Hill trig, was the beginning of an epic five hours and forty-eight minute flight. Releasing in front of the rotor cloud, climbing at an incredible rate, circling as you would under Cu's, I found that if I wasn't careful one would be in the thick of it. So I changed tactics, by flying in a figure of eight formation just in front of the rotor enabled me to use the best lift, climbing to 6500ft. Drifting into ten knots down is not the wisest thing to do, as it cost me more than a thousand feet which was the lowest point for the day. Once established in four to six knots of lift, I soon reached 10,000ft. I would then explore the system by Tiki-touring over the countryside, New Plymouth, Oakura, the mountain to lose some height. Flying back to a position between Lake Mangamahoe and Egmont Village and going up in next to no time.
After about two hours of minus two degrees, cold feet and a slightly numb bum, I searched the glider pockets and found it-one red second-hand plastic bag. Some sound advice for any pilot on a long flight, if you locate a plastic bag, especially if it has resided in the glider pocket for a while, gently inflate it so as to ascertain which corner might have any holes in it, then you can keep the corner uppermost. I also think I am qualified to say that when disposing of that used article, hold the top of the bag tightly, put your arm as far out of the side hatch as possible then let go quickly. You would be surprised as to how fast that bag empties if that procedure is not followed. A good demonstration of the Venturi principle or is it Murphy's law. The side of the canopy might well need a wash when I land.
The three hour mark passed, the bum is really numb. The wave system seems to be getting stronger with the vario indicating seven knots of lift at times and I was having to find some sink to keep honest with the 10,000ft mark. It crossed my mind that I should have had my oxygen mask and the club barograph as a Gold C or a Diamond height gain was there for the taking. Never mind, I don't want to do all the tasks in one flight. The last hour was spent over the Maude and Henry peaks with a good four knots of lift and of course, the odd excursion over Mt Egmont to stay within my height margin. Received a radio call to say that the five hours were up. I enquired is any pilots wanted Golf November Golf (the Astir), they didn't so I elected to stay a little longer Since I didn't have a trace for the Ranges Cup, I was going to make sure that I had the official longest flight at German Hill to crow about for a while.
Was it easy? Staying there was. Flying under a sea breeze front would be easy also. It certainly an endurance test having to occupy one's mind and concentrate for the duration. I have thirty-seven photos of the flight to look at and recall one of my most pleasurable flying experiences.
