SAFA Skysailor Magazine

25 March | April 2021 SKY SAILOR groundhandling and tag as many turnpoints as I can on the way to the fly-in. On day one we visit Ocean Grove and 13th Beach near Geelong, with Bruce and Anthony chaperoning, but sadly, it’s too windy for me to fly, and I spend a couple of hours getting pounded and dragged by my wing on the beach while better pilots fly speedwings. The coastal pilots are patient, I’m too busy feeling terrified of my bouncing wall to feel like I’m taking much in, yet the pressure from the high wind teaches me that I’m actually launching crooked, and I have my first learning of the trip: Straighten up my hips ever so slightly and the risers will be in line when I bring up my wing. It’s 8:15pm and I finally launch after dinner. A sunset flight from Ocean Grove is a far cry from the astroturf of Mystic – my wing brought up between the wind shadow of a picnic table and a bush with evening poodle walkers waiting patiently to pass. My launch was perfect, the groundhandling worked, and I’m rewarded with the changing hues from fire to vanilla as the sun moves below Barwon Head, throwing light across the coast and up the river as Bruce, Anthony and I fly in the setting sun. Two turnpoints for the day and a gin and tonic to finish. On day two we head to Bells Beach (South Side). SSO Matt Hall has joined the road trip, with some PG2 friends from Melbourne. I’m a little intimidated by the idea of a cliff at the end of launch, but yesterday’s groundhandling has had an effect and I feel more solid. Matt asks me about my flight plan, and we decide that if I stay up, we’ll head up the coast for a couple more turnpoints. We scratch for coastal lift until we get up, and alongside Damian, one of the PG2s, the three of us head over the cliffs and west towards the far turnpoint. The ocean is spectacular, and my point bagging thoughts are interrupted by the shear bliss of boating above one of the most iconic coastlines in Australia with a handful of my best flying mates. I learn about cliff line rotor from the slightly crossed breeze, getting much more comfortable closer to terrain, and flying in much closer quarters with unknown pilots than I’d ever consider inland. It’s not the three-dimensional flying I’m used to, and for me far more challenging. With the tide shutting down South Side, we head for Spion Kop, and meet up with more locals and more turnpoints. However, I don’t stay up, and my second flight is interrupted before launch, so I make do with just one turnpoint. Damien Knightsbridge over Bell’s Beach South Side All photos: Christie Hamilton Matt Hall launching at Flaxman’s Hill Pete Moriarty flying Spion Kop in the evening light