SAFA Skysailor Magazine

10 SKY SAILOR March | April 2022 on this day and followed the pilots’ conversa- tions via UHF radio. Eight pilots took off destined for Apollo Bay, seven completed the flight, one safely landed short. Bruce, Ben, James, Hughbert, Rohan, Phil and Peter completed the flight with Rohan in the fastest time of 1:40. Every pilot I spoke to was elated at the challenges met and conquered. It was Ben’s first completion of the coastal run. Radio contact enabled sharing of critical information, including potentially conflicting low flying light aircraft traffic along the coast, and allowed the provision of advice and encouragement to Ben during the flight. Later in the day, an eighth pilot, Mark Willy, also successfully completed the coastal run. Coastal run Above: Bruce after leaving Teddys Lookout near Lorne for points west, in order: Wye River, Kennett River, Cape Patton and the final destination, Wild Dog Creek at Apollo Bay. Orographic cloud forms over some of the higher ridges Below: Hughbert cruising at 2200ft asl over the Great Ocean Road, somewhere near Kennett River. This inhospitable section of coast offers very little in the way of safe landing locations Photos: Hughbert Alexander