Maori Bay Magic

Task type: Coastal soaring

Difficulty: Advanced

Launch site: Maori Bay 

Site rating for launch: PG2 + 20 hours / HG Intermediate 

Task distance: 10 km 

Description: Launch at Maori Bay; fly south to within a 400 m radius circle centred on O’Neill’s Bay; return north to Maori Bay.  

Skills required: Confident at judging wind strength and direction while in flight in order to avoid areas of potential turbulence. Confident to fly along sections of remote coastline with no bottom landing options. 

Tips and Tricks:

• This route is best flown in a westerly, when the wind is square to the cliffs and conditions are noticeably 'lifty'

• Be careful if scratching close to the cliff when flying towards the headland at the southern end of Maori Bay (the one where the windsock and weather station are located), as any southerly aspect to the wind direction may cause rotor to form in the lee

• Crux point - if you find that it's easy to soar up and over the large headland to the south of Maori Bay (https://goo.gl/maps/SgWreTcSdk4WDXi89) then continuing on this route is feasible. If you struggle to get height and/or feel like you have to push out in front of this headland to get around it then it's best to turn back north towards Maori Bay and try another day when conditions are better.

• Dangers - south of the large 'crux' headland bottom landing options are largely absent. Do not continue on this route unless conditions allow you to easily maintain your height well above the cliffs. If conditions suddenly change be prepared to top land/slope land amongst the scrub on top of the cliffs. DO NOT under any circumstances put yourself in a position where you are likely to land in the surf!! Be aware of the likelihood of rotor downwind of the small islands and large outcrop at the northern end of Bethell's Beach. 

• It's a LOONG retrieve if you land out at Bethells, so make sure that you can fly back to Maori Bay!