Omarama Day 2 - The morning was spent reviewing the traces from monday on Seeyou.Followed by a lecture on structure of thermals in the mountains.
After an early lunch, the grid started launching at one o'clock. The forecast was for good thermals but a potential early finish with thickening cirrus from the next system.
Jill and Gabriel were third to go in DuoDiscus xL QQ. Gabriel pulled off early in a cracking thermal in the valley overhead the airfield. Stepping up into the foothills the good thermals did not seem to be over the ridges, and after a short exploration and close encounter with sheep on the top of a spur, things got going.
Having worked up to 9000ft made an easy transition into wave heading for Mount Cook. Climbing through 10000ft we realised that the oxygen wasn't turned on, so made a decision to go for distance instead of height today.
After an orbit of Mount Cook and Mt Tasman with some great photos, Gabriel decided that we could easily make Mt Aspiring along the energy lines of the wave just above the Cumulus. There was much more cloud to the south west and from 12000ft, Mt Aspiring didn't appear until we were fairly close, although its position was never in doubt with cumulus higher and pouring down the leeward side.
Having turned back for home, Gabriel suggested that we overshoot to explore the nice looking convergence developing to the east of site, but it didn't last long and a straight -in approach from 6000ft was a new experience. -A great flight thanks to the fantastic sky reading (and flying) of Gabriel, 400kms in 4.5 hours.
Check out Jill's flight on the OLC
Check out Jill's flight on the OLC
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| Mt Cook |
