HGFA Skysailor Magazine

14 SKY SAILOR September | October 2018 which had been generously donated for our time in China by the Guyuan club members. Despite the poor weather and encroaching storms and squalls, we were able to tow and take in the amazing landscapes we had anticipated. During the short flights with little lift, we were enthralled by the plains, the rolling hills and distant mountain ranges. What would we experience in the coming days of more promising forecasts? We were certainly not disappointed, flying all but one of the following days. With cloudbase between 11,000 and 13,500ft, we were able to take in the amazing surrounds, culminating in a short, fast last task of 68km into Inner Mongolia. Whilst tough in the start gate, Harrison and I managed to take the 13:15 start gate at just under 13’000ft and take advantage of the strong cross/ tailwind to move quickly down the course line. We continued this until I missed a climb and Harrison got a full thermal ahead while I struggled in light broken lift low. Finally getting back to base and on course, I was able to change from racing mode to tourist mode and take further climbs higher than needed for final glide to enjoy the amazing sights – high plains, rolling hills, dotted cities and desert mountains – whilst playing amongst differing layers of cloud. What a way to end the flying in this wonderful area with four of the Aussie Gecko crew in goal.  Despite the amazing flying, it was the friends we made and amazing experiences we had in this area and the generosity shown to us that stand out. From the club members, ensuring our every wish was met, to other locals with no association, greeting us on the side of the road on landing and driving us to and from local towns for drinks and supplies, local villagers greeting us to pose for photos and communicating through translation apps in their simple houses, and shepherds sitting with us in the grasslands as we waited for retrieves, always with beaming smiles and a welcome attitude that makes me encourage anyone to travel and fly in this area, given the opportunity. Brad Porter about to launch behind the Dragonfly with tug pilot Longfei Yang Fu Yu Ba Be, Longfei’s brother Brian Local competitors Day cookie winners (l-r): Ba Be Yang, Bin Duan, Rob de Groot Retrieving (l-r) Harrison Rowntree, Rohan Taylor, Steve Docherty, Brad Porter All pilots were on course when this giant storm cell rolled in from the south 2018 Moyes China Inv i tat ional