Taylor's Mistake

GPS Coordinates: -43.585, 172.766

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Wind Direction: ENE

 

Minimum Pilot Rating: PG2 / HG Advanced

 

Access: From Evans pass, travelling towards Godley Head on the Summit road, there is a cattle stop and obvious layby.

 

Take-off: The main take-off (TO1) is the large, grassed and gently sloping area right next to the carpark.

 

Taylor’s Mistake saddle (the gut) take-off (TO2) is located 1 km down the hill and above Summit Road. This is used when there is not enough wind to soar from TO1.

 

Landing: Top Landing is fairly straight forward for PG’s at TO1 & TO2. For HG’s it is still possible but more technical due to the sloping ground. Some HG’s land above the road behind TO1.

 

The main bottom landing is LZ1 and located in the grassy paddocks behind the beach carpark. You can also land on the beach (PG’s only) away from the crowds. Sumner beach LZ3 is reached by first soaring Scarborough cliffs.

 

Flying: Taylor’s mistake is the club’s most heavily used site. It is generally flyable year round in the NE sea breeze. In the summer, thermic air mixes with the sea breeze and causes some turbulence that you would not normally expect at a coastal site.

 

At first appearances, the site looks small but with the use of the gut and Scarborough cliffs it can accommodate many gliders. If the winds are light you can head to the gut for a better chance of staying up.

 

Be very careful to avoid the telephone wires and poles that run adjacent to the Summit Road (especially the side wires that support the poles). As TM is the club’s most used site, there is a high potential to incidents happening.

 

It is highly recommended to fly with radio tuned in to channel 40 (477.400MHz). So that pilots can communicate in case of emergency or be given advice from more experienced pilots around if “trapped” in the air. If the wind is off to the north, you can expect turbulence behind the small spurs (especially just before the quarry).

 

If the wind is more from the east you should notice much better lift and you can also get wave. Avoid flying too far into the gut if the wind is off to the east.

 

The main hazard for Taylor’s is the wind speed. There is a wind station giving live wind readings which is best accessed via the Holfuy app. There is also a Holfuy station at Allandale. The ocean is also a great indicator. Wind lines and anchored boats on the sea will give you a good idea about the true wind direction and speed.

 

You will learn through experience that you can fly when there are some white caps on the sea (but not too many).

 

If you feel the winds are very strong whilst flying, it is still better to land at the main top landing (LZ2=TO1). Avoid the compression in the gut and the bottom landing LZ1 as it will be even stronger and more turbulent there. In stronger winds you will find the biggest challenge of top landing is getting down. Competent use of descent techniques is required