SAFA Skysailor Magazine

25 July | August 2024 SKY SAILOR The initial stages of the task were going to plan as I reached the central main area. The map says ‘Siberia’, and it felt like it. I was at base under a nice line of cloud that didn’t follow our task. Where we’d planned to go looked to be in a different airmass and I had no confidence in going there. As time ticked on, I decided to start skipping waypoints. The goal was to camp at Hidden Lakes on the Buchanans with a five-point bonus for doing so – getting there before the wind blew up or we ran out of time or lift was the next problem. Cutting back towards Rob Roy seemed a prudent thing to do, I’d lost track of the guys but they weren’t far behind. I radioed my intentions and headed towards Shotover Saddle turnpoint. The line of clouds broke up, the thermals became erratic, and the wind increased as forecast. Getting over the saddle was nerve-wracking – rough, sink, punchy scraps of thermals – I seriously doubted I’d make it. The terrain below was rough, broken scree slopes, jagged rocky outcrops and a beautiful blue lake amongst this unwelcoming ground. Walking anywhere here would be difficult, I was desperate to make it… I did, just. Entering the Matukituki valley system threw up some different challenges: Go headwind into this washing machine or tail and make a run for whatever I could on my way to ‘goal’? Peter from Slovakia had tagged it but was low. Staying as high as I could through this next bit would be handy. I did get bits here and there, but nothing was easy or smooth. Crossing the valley at Camerons Corner started well, really high, and I was following Peter until he sunk out badly on the wrong side of the spur. I did well until I got towards Mt Eostre where we both copped it from the wrong side of Rob Roy. Sinking down to the tree line and making a desperate bid for clean air further east towards goal was my priority. Peter did well scratching up where he was, but he had fewer choices than I, so I moved on until I hit some terrain that deflected some of the roaring westerly down the valley. Turning and parking into wind had me just going up, a tiny bit of brake stopped all forward movement, and I was happy to gain height, be it ever so slowly. Any venture further resulted in a thrashing, staying in the flow was better. Peter joined me and we worked our way up. Then Peter got a big asymmetrical on his Zeno. I took care to move back into the slower rising, more stable air. Goal was in sight, a couple of turnpoints to tag, land and set up camp, no need to rush. With enough height to move on, we did, tagging Mt Alta and Buchanan before attempting to land at Hidden Lakes. I lost track of Peter and assumed he’d continued. Landing in this wind and terrain was testing. Lawrie and All photos: Tim Marshall