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Takeoff:
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Take-off from the flat top of the Pa site or, if the wind is strong, a little lower on the hill facing NW. Take-off direction should always be towards Whale Island (the closest island you can see in NW direction) to avoid tall trees. Do not take off towards the fence and trees in a straight-north direction (big chance of sinking into the tall Pohutekawas after takeoff).
Best place to lay-out your glider is on the very back (S) ridge of the site, as far towards the west as possible. Airflow is cleanest there and take-off easiest.
To get your bearings on this site; White Island (Whakaari) is straight north. This is the puffing active volcano about 50 km off the coast. On some hazy days you can't see it, but it's pretty much straight out to the ocean (90 degrees on the beach). Anything left of White Island is more towards the west, anything right of White Island is more towards the east (and if the wind is coming from there the site is not flyable, see "Weather" below).
Whale Island (Moutohora) is directly NW. Anything to the right of Whale Island is more towards the North, anything left of Whale Island is more towards the West. The end of Kohe Point ridge is WNW (and if the wind is coming from there it gets very turbulent, see "Weather" below).
Landing:
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Normal landing area is between the tall Norfolk Pine and the beach. You can land anywhere in the dunes or further out on the beach. The dune area is not flat, so take care.
Take extra care in high season (December-February) when the campground is full. Always land with ample clearance of any tents, caravans, trees, and people. Remember; not everybody thinks we are in full control, so just stay away to avoid any misunderstandings.
When in doubt, land on the beach. It's only a 150 meter walk back to the campground where you can pack your wing on the grass.
Top landing is possible, but for expert pilots only:
When the wind direction is N - NNW; fly to the very end of the ridge, towards the swimming pool. Turn and fly towards the back ridge of the take-off (your approach to the take-off is from the west). If too low (at any time); bail out and fly to the front of the hill to try again. If too high, make figure-8 turns above the back (S) ridge of the take-off until you are low enough to top-land into wind. Turbulence in this wind direction is minimal, as long as you don't go too far back (never cross the fence that runs along the walking path south of the take-off)
When the wind is coming more from the WNW - NW; from the spur (just before the bowl), fly straight out towards the ocean. Keep looking back towards the hill and turn back until you are at the right height to fly over the highest tree on the ridge with a meter or so (your approach to the take-off is from the NE). Once you are over the tree on the ridge, it will get quite turbulent for a bit until you connect with the back of the take-off. If you are too high (you normally are); make figure-8's until you are low enough to land into wind on the top.
This latter option is the more turbulent route, but you can't come in from the west anymore because you will be flying with the wind towards the take-off at too high speed to make a safe top-landing.
Weather:
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The site is good in a NNW-N. North gets very difficult to take-off, but once in front if will be super buoyant.
In NW it is recommended to not fly past the little spur towards the east (and into the bowl facing north). In a NW It gets very turbulent on the western side of the bowl, and if you get low you'll have to fight into wind to get on the windward side of the hill again.
When it gets more W (WNW or W), the hill still looks like it is flyable, but in fact isn't. You'll notice very quickly if you take-off anyway; turbulent in front of the hill with very little lift.
As soon as there is a bit of E component, it gets almost impossible to take-off. There is no take-off possibility towards the NE at all. Even if you are able to take-off towards the NW in these conditions, you will fly straight into a big turbulent, rotory sink hole. You'd have to fly through all that around the corner towards the east to find marginal lift. Not worth it.
The prevailing wind in summer is NW-NNW due to the seabreezes. The seabreeze usually starts every sunny day between 10 and 11 AM, and stops about 30 minutes to an hour before sunset. BEWARE of a sudden wind direction change when the seabreeze stops: It is not uncommon to have a nice 12 knot NNW seabreeze turn into a nasty 22 kts southerly within minutes! You will feel it coming (starts to get turbulent, less lift, wind-lines on the ocean disappear or change direction suddenly), but it's safer to just be on the ground well before sunset.
It is very important to know how to read wind-lines on the ocean so you can determine the true wind direction. Because this is a steep hill with a flat top, the hill will "feel" flyable in most wind directions. Make sure you know the true wind-direction before you takeoff.
When in doubt; stop by the local pilots that live in the two story house at nr 240 on the road towards the campground (you'll see the windsock on the harbour side). They will be able to tell you if the conditions are good or not.
Stay at the Ohiwa Beach Holiday Park. They have powered and unpowered tent sites, cabins, beautiful clean amenities, a swimming pool and a fantastic safe and easy flying site to top it all off. This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds in New Zealand owned by super friendly people; well worth the stay!
Ohiwa Beach Holiday Park: +64 7 315 4741, https://www.ohiwaholidays.co.nz/
Other local options: Fantail Cottage: +64 (07) 974 6510, http://www.fantailcottage.co.nz/
Absolutely no push-bikes or motor-bikes up the walking tracks. Vehicle access is not allowed without prior permission from DOC. Other than that the campground owners appreciate it if you stick your head into their reception office to let them know you will be flying the hill. Permission is always granted; it's just a common courtesy to let them know you will be flying above their campground and landing (or packing) your wing on their campground. The entire hill is owned by DOC and operated as an active farm, so please leave gates as you find them. There are no access restrictions during lambing season, but please don't cause any trouble so we can keep it this way.
40 minutes east of Whakatane, 20 minutes west of Opotiki. Take exit "Onekawa Pa" off SH-2. Take a left over the bridge and up the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take a right onto Ohiwa Harbour Road. The first house you see on the right (with the windsock on the harbour edge) belongs to some friendly local pilots. Always welcome to stop by for info. Continue driving until you see the entrance of the Ohiwa Harbour Campground on the left. Park your car on the grassy area across the road from the entrance (next to the 50 speed sign) and walk to the reception office. Let the owners know your intentions, then walk past the barriers and enter the path up the hill on your right. Follow the path until you hit a T. Take a left, walk a bit further and go through the gate. After the gate immediately right, steep up the hill. Keep following this path until you reach the take-off. The entire hill is owned by DOC and operated as an active farm, so please leave gates as you find them.
Michel & Aniko: +64 21 104 6208, https://kiwi-air.co.nz/, local site-monitors (at 240 Ohiwa Harbour Road)
Altitude 100m
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