Another great competition, lots of fun, lots of landouts, and lots of great food (thanks Jan!).

We had a number of challenging days due to the weather, and even some easterly wave at one stage allow some lucky punters to start the task at 6000+ feet. Thermals all week were weak, however we did fly 5 days and sat around or played golf for 2. Of course the day after the contest has turned into a ripper xcountry day, that's the way the cookie crumbles I guess.

Well done to Tony and Nigel who proved yet again how consistently doing well wins contests. The final scores are available here at soaring spot. Note contestants with an @ beside their name were outside the handicap range to be eligible for the club class prizes, which is why Nigel was the official winner.

Overall this inaugural club class contest has been a huge success, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed flying the same task.

Again a big thanks to everyone who helped out and volunteered so much time to make the week a success.

PS. Richie was on Campbell Live this evening doing some gliding promotion, view the video here.

We had quite a few landouts this day...

Wave. Yes wave. There's nothing like starting a task at 6000 feet. I almost felt sorry for those stuck at 2500', until they passed overhead while I sat at Tokaroa airfield.

For some reason gliding was called off this day... Wairere falls turns into Huka falls.

Jan, Nigel (first place) and Steve (third place) admiring the drizzle and waterfall. Debris on the road were caused by flooding just an hour before.

Bob with a great view of someone else, it might have an M in the rego.

I've always wanted to land on a sealed airfield, so deliberately *cough* gave up the task and landed at Tokaroa.

We've been doing well lately, with a number of achievements the past couple of weeks.

First up well done to Keith for conversion into XP. He had at least two flights, and they went well. About time he learnt to use XP, in a few years he can have a go at Vista :) (computer joke there... LOL)

Secondly Steve and Tim managed our 500km diamond flights on a ripper of a Saturday. It turned out to be a brilliant ridge day, with the bad weather passing through a bit quicker than was forecast. Why is it often the 'bad' weather days that turn out to be the best? In particular well done Steve, that completes his three diamonds.

We got a few photos, there was a huge amount of water coming over Wairere falls.

Also congrats to Mark Drayson for completing his 5 hour flight on Wednesday.

And finally, well done and thanks to Edouard for processing our 500km diamond flight claims within hours after the flight. Apparently some kind of record. Who said the paperwork takes longer than the flight eh?!

Competition next week, if anyone wants to help out Les launch the grid please do. We especially need helpers during the week, the weekends are usually OK. We'll usually be launching between 11-1pm depending on weather. Perhaps give Les a call and let him know you can help. 

Wind? You want wind? You got wind.

A lot of water going down Wairere falls. A lot of water going up too.

Islands and bays near Coromandel town

The water was a bit muddy close to shore. Mental note, don't land in the water.

Nothing like heading straight out to the ocean in a glider. This heading for the turnpoint. On turning around you realise just how far you haven't really gone.

Wow what an amazing 2 weeks at Raglan the club has had. The publicity from the event has been amazing, with several potential new club members, and the introduction of gliding to hundreds of people.

A huge thanks to Steve care who was at the camp for the entire time. Our going over there a little early made a big difference, as the first day or two are usually quiet, so it meant we had two busy weekends.

Thanks also to all the other helpers, duty pilots, instructors and tow pilots. We were often busy from 9 until 6, and sometimes even 3 people on the ground were only just enough.

Here's a few pics from various people.

Intrepid Camp Leader Steve Care

Steve taking an apparently naked man for a flight.

Keith in GNI looking over Karioi

Keith's Daughters photo

Keith's Daughters photo

Photo of BZA by Jonathan Rankin

Photo of GPC by Jonathan Rankin

An airshow at Centenial Park, 29th Jan 2011. Full details in this flyer or see http://taupoflyingproms.co.nz/

Taupo Flying Proms Flyer.pdf

Christmas Camp is going well. We seem to have a lot of impressively high performance gliders on the field, including Tauranga's new Discus XLT. The T is for turbo, and the XL is for extra lengthy. It's nice and shiny too. There's heaps of other gliders from Auckland and further afield.

Today flying conditions started out looking promising, with fluffy clouds and everything. It got worse though, with high cloud, a sprinkle of rain and lots of other rubbish. Tomorrow is looking like a write-off, with luck that will clear things out for a good Wednesday and Thursday.

A big thanks to Evey Belworthy for making the awesome new wing covers for GXP. They look great and work really well, and obviously took a few days to put together so thank you so much.

Coming up 5th-13th Feb, we have the Club Class National gliding competition at Matamata. There is even prize money! While only official club class can officially win, any other gliders are welcome to enter. Of our fleet, GXP and GNI are officially eligible, but there's no reason not to enter in anything else. If anyone is interested in flying any of the club aircraft, let the instructors and committee know on instructors@glidingmatamata.co.nz and committee@glidingmatamata.co.nz.

Following that 19th-27th Feb is the Sports Class competition at Waipukurau. The GSN, GPC and GPK are all eligible for that one.

Details about both competitions are available online at gliding.co.nz.

Christmas Camp 26th - 2nd Jan

Christmas Camp is usually a time where all our club members go away, and all the other clubs come to us! This year we'd like to encourage everyone to come along and fly.

• Usually great flying conditions.
• Perfect opportunity to do 50Km flights and badge flights.
• Training will be available full time.
• Bring friends and family! Remember they fly at club rates.
• Tauranga's Brand New Duo Discuss will be flying from Matamata, keep an eye out for it!
• Winching may be available as well as aerotow.
• Rooms and tent sites available. If you've never stayed before, there are excellent facilities.
• Starting early every day, for those who want to do long flights.
• Weather and task briefings may be available in the mornings.
• People from Whenapai, Drury and Tauranga and more will be joining us.

Raglan 3rd - 16th Jan

This year we are taking one twin to Raglan early. From the 3rd to 7th we will be flying from Raglan AND Matamata. On the weekend of the 8th we will be moving both twins to Raglan, and will stay until Sunday 16th weather depending. Note the Walsh flying school is at Matamata from the 7th Jan - 21st Jan.

• Flying every fine day, from 9am to late
• Trial flights from $60 for a circuit.
• Full club flying and trial flights & gift voucher flights available.
• Club members are welcome to organise single seat gliders.
• If there is a good westerly day likely, we will organise a coastal run!

Drury Competition Jan 8th-16th 2011

There is now a page on the club website (http://www.glidingauckland.co.nz/?q=node/63) where you can find all the info for the upcoming Drury Comps.

Christmas Dec 25th!

Just in case you had forgotten :) Merry Christmas from us at Piako Gliding Club

Thanks to Sefton for that one, it's a ripper

Well done to our winners, Club class, Bob Gray and Alan Belworthy for the fast class. Full results available at Soaring Spot:

http://www.soaringspot.com/nr2010/

We had a great final day, with a big task down to Tihoi and Atiamuri.

A huge thanks to all the helpers over the past couple of weeks. 

More photos on flickr, thanks to Trev Terry for those.