HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 27 November | December 2018 One of those is the alternate Timbis site which Ketut has set up in front of the emerging Gunung Cultural centre. This site is not in everyday use. It's more or less at the centre of the temple bowl and it looks wonderful in every respect. Covered in real turf, 70m wide and 40m deep, it features a fabulous first-stage lift slope of about 30 degrees. Yet here is the problem: That slope has an abrupt knife edge drop to 80 degrees. In strong, or slightly southerly, winds it has a vicious rotor. It’s a fair bet that by this time next year, Ketut will know exactly where the threats lie, but it certainly caught me unawares this year. The Timbis Club spent most of its Aug/Sept season this year, on their original launch ridge. One hundred metres to the east, Timbis has an any-tide beach bomb-out with coral sand and low profile vegetation. Slightly to the west, there's Pantai Pandawa which seems to be the preferred option for tandems as it is easily accessible for cars and bikes. Less experienced pilots will find the eastern beach much easier. The walk-out to Pandawa at high tide is strenuous but manageable. At low tide the bathing belles and- beaus make the walk-out ‘scenic’. The full walk back-up to launch is hard to recommend. Once was enough for me! No bets should be placed on either of these beach back-ups remaining indefinitely available. The pressure on this ridge is currently adversely affected by the ongoing uncertainties of Candi Dasa. Candi has a dedicated Aussie PG following, but it has had issues a couple of years ago which remain unresolved. To some extent this season was blessed with great mid-strength days when the wind squared up consistently in the mid-afternoon. For those who worship the long run west to the high cliffs, this was pure magic. More people went more often and with more height than I can remember. There is now the potential for good top and bottom launches at Nyang Nyang (western end) – I am told the climb up from the beach is good for the heart. Not mine, I think. The international pilots during my month there included a large Indian group. They flew well, but had little reverse launch experience. They used a modified alpine technique with one local assistant on each side of the harness. In their last two days, they made early morning starts and focussed on reverse launches which they did not find easy. The Indians were followed by a now familiar Korean group. These pilots had some reverse launch understanding, but were foxed by the backward slope of this launch area. In light wind, assistance is sometimes needed to ‘fill’ the wing. In strong wind, turbulence can be epic when launching back from the lip. This can also affect landings in strong conditions. There were at least two cases in which pilots encountered a tailwind when below five metres. Another threat is moving in on us: The multi- rotor camera (drone). One ‘nerdy’ type was flying his ‘micro-scythe’ at the junction of the downwind and base legs. He couldn't see the device as he concentrated on his control screen. These units are very hard to spot, even when you can hear the propellors. I’m sure I would not have been able to hear that whir if I had been lining up to land. I suspect no-one challenged this bloke on his choice of operating location. You would hope that a Duty Pilot would have had a word at a gathering such as this, but it seemed to have escaped notice. Later that month, a more commercial type drone (potentially fully autonomous) flew over the partly built hotel next door. It was never near our right hand circuits. Finally, we encountered a rare situation: One day, the wind changed, encouraging the tandems to switch to left-hand circuits. On paper, you would have hoped that everyone adopted the same tactic… but hope is a wonderful thing, isn't it? My last advice is practice vigilance. On this crowded site, where alcohol is being offered, it is very hard to be certain fliers are sober. No joke! On the launch site there is a new formality to the layout with still more shade (out of shot) Often deserted broad beach: Works with either approach (to east here). Red X indicates good touch down near a shack, walk-out towards west to Pandawa via track – not real easy The all but deserted Pandawa Beach: The numbers suggest potential turbulence with an easterly wind – high numbers are easiest. Easy retrieves from here This was new and not seen often this year. It reveals some local ambitions