FLYING THE NATIONALS By Hamish McCaw
In January Wellington Gliding Club pilot Hamish McCaw was lucky enough to compete in the 2009 National Gliding Championships at Omarama, in his Std Cirrus GJJ. This was after some careful negotiation with his wife and family. As the family were holidaying in Wanaka, competing involved a daily 1½ hour commute each way during the first week of competition. Recently returned to gliding after a break of seventeen years, McCaw is one of the Hakataramea McCaw clan. He initially learnt to fly in the “Haka” and had previously been a syndicate owner of a Cirrus with his brothers Donald and John. The Mackenzie country and his glider were quite familiar. Competition flying however was not. He tells the story of how he came to win the Club Class. Before arriving in Omarama I had planned to enjoy two weeks The Cirrus didn’t do too badly keeping up with the Discus. of gliding, flying the competition tasks but not competing too seriPeople want to know about how I won the contest. To be honest ously. I had initially intended entering the Standard Class; however, I flew very conservatively/consistently (some might call this slow) after a discussion with Gavin Wills I decided to compete in the Club which resulted in me completing nine out of the ten tasks, landing Class. When I heard the task on the first day for the Standard Class, out on the last day 20 km short of the finish. which included one turnpoint at Mount Arrowsmith (somewhere up Below I have described two of the contest days, one not so near Mount Hutt), I was somewhat relieved I’d changed class. Fellow good and the other a bit better. Wellingtonian Mark Wilson flew his Libelle in the Standard Class On day 3 the Task was Oa – Omarama Saddle – Glentanner – and did very well considering the supeRibbonwood – Simons – Oa, 242 km in a rior performance gliders he was competing NW wave conditions. against. Day one he won a bottle of wine for After a good start I climbed straight No I am still on the second completing 402 km at 95.6 km/h. into wave at the Omarama saddle to 9,000 leg and I’m about to give There were five of us in the Club Class feet (if only I had slowed a little and climbed (great bunch to fly with/against): Bob Martin to 11,000 feet plus). I then headed direct to it away and go home. I from Gore, Geoff Gaddes and Hadleigh Glentanner hoping to get into the wave in might be a bit late. Bognuda from Auckland (we won’t hold that the lee of the Ben Ohaus. Of course I arrived against them) and Wilson Ellery from Cantera bit low (under 7,000 feet) and missed the bury. Wilson at 21 was highly competitive wave and ended up running for the ridge on and was breathing down my neck throughout the contest. A couple the Benmores where I spent the next 4 plus hours trying to get into of landouts by Wilson made the difference between us at the end. wave. I had basically given up as it was after 7 pm, when my cellI managed one flight at Omarama two weeks before the contest phone went: my wife in Wanaka asking if I was driving home yet. started, Ahuriri – Hawkdun Range – Hakataramea Valley – Cattle ‘No I am still on the second leg and I’m about to give it away and Creek – Omarama in thermals and easterly convergence following go home. I might be a bit late.’ nephew Richard McCaw in his Discus (I think he was following me). This prompted me back to life and I immediately climbed into
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24
April 2009
