SAFA Skysailor Magazine

21 July | August 2024 SKY SAILOR Rainbow) has been described as one of the top five coastal free flying sites in the world. When to fly Rainbow Beach is the perfect flying site at any time of year that produces a gentle sea-breeze. This mostly occurs in the spring to autumn months, where nor’easters prevail. Paraglider pilots in full size wings can fly in lighter conditions from due East through due North (E, ENE, NE, NNE, N) ideally 8 to 12kt. Mini-wing paragliders and hang gliders revel in 12kt or more. Flight The Carlo Sand Blow acts as a ‘sand half pipe’ or ‘sand bowl’, where skilled pilots skim their dangling feet in aerial ‘wagga’ – swooping side to side. Rainbow is a unique location where all pilots from beginners to experienced pilots can finetune their skills, no/low altitude handling of wings in a myriad of manoeuvres above the sand, while taking care to not push too far. At other times, pilots fly up the big dunes to the south of launch and climb to the top of the lift band at about 400m above sea level. The 360-degree views of Double Island Point to the south, K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) north, Tin Can Bay and the Sandy Straights west, make it all worthwhile. Who can fly? In ideal conditions, the site is perfect for beginners, with a huge area for them to ground handle and build skills and a 10km stretch of high dunes to allow space to practise high flying. It’s also a popular training location for the local free flight schools, including SEQ Para- gliding and Northside Paragliding. As a coastal site, Rainbow is not really a site for big achievements, more ‘big’ practising and ‘big’ days – it’s not uncommon to fly for most of the day, level up your skills and share the stoke with new and old friends. Uniqueness This picturesque location on the east coast of Queensland provides pilots with some of the most spectacular views in the country, overlooking white sand dunes and clear blue waters as far as the eye can see. Photos: Tex Beck and Susy Goldner