Trip to Cook Islands back in June 07

A bit of a late entry here. Back in June I went to the Cook Islands with 7 others, Kath, Lee ,Taj & Nita (Lee's mum), Scotty & Fiona and Joel.


We spent 7 days on Raratonga and 6 on a beautiful island called Aitutaki. The main reason for going was to kitesurf. 6 of us had kiting gear (Nita and Taj are not into it yet). Scotty had done some research and told us that it should be great for kiting and the wind should be up. Unfortunately this wasn't so. After a few days of no wind on Raratonga we started going a bit stir crazy.



We went snorkeling, climbed up the hardest tracks I've ever been on and nearly got lost. It was very steep and if there wasn't any markers you never would've known there was a track there. Joel and Scotty did it waring thongs! My nike sandals were broken afterwards. Only Joel made it to the highest peak with Scotty getting to within 30m of the summit. I got to about 300m and Kath and Fiona turned back about 500m from the top. Lee took Taj & Nita back only after about a kilometer as the mossies and track looked bad.


The wind was teasing us. Only a couple of knots short of being able to kite. Joel eventually had had enough after cracking open coconuts and drinking beer and sitting on the beach looking at the ocean. On the 5th day he grabbed his kite and set up. I told him he was mad. He planned on launching from the reef near our beach house. There was just enough wind to get going and off he went. He did a few runs and managed to tack back to where he left. He scraped his board on the reef as he came back in and was lucky to get away with it, but he got his fix. Unfortunately for Joel this was his only real kite session for the whole trip.


Taj after a big session.

Then it was on to Aitutaki. Poor little Taj (18 months old) couldn't pop his ears on the small plane (no pressurised cabin). He screamed and cried the whole 50 mins.


Aitutaki is one of the most beautiful islands I've ever seen. A massive lagoon with several small islands close to the reef. So after we'd found our accomodation and been attacked by millions of mosquitos I went and hired a moped as there was still no wind.

The next day still had no wind. So on day four at Aitutaki after lots of drinking, Kayaking to a small island, exploring the island on the moped and opening even more coconuts, Joel gave up. He decided to head back to Raratonga and hopefully find more wind there. That night as Joel was getting on the plane the wind picked up! Poor Joel. He found no wind on Raratonga and lost his keys to a moped. He did go skinny dipping with some Scandinavian girls though apparently.

The rest us of thanked the wind gods and went out on a boat to an awesome sand island which we kited off and had lunch on. We also went fishing on some reefs and we caught some good snapper which we ate for dinner. Yum! The next day we went back there on a boat and kited all afternoon. The last two days made the whole trip worth it.

Sunday Beechmont

Well last Sunday for me was a day I'd rather forget.
Joel and I arrived at Beechmont to find new student and mate, Scotty ready to launch with Lee overseeing.



We waited to catch some shots of Scotty launching, but he seemed to have a few demons to overcome to launch. We eventually gave up on him and set up our gliders.


We saw some paragliders having a good time of the conditions soaring quite easily.


But by the time we were ready to launch it had all turned to shite. Enda bombed out. After a while old Trev launched and seemed to be going only up. So after I waited for someone to land on the shelf I launched and tried to get in what old Trev was in. Bad decision, as the wind in the bomb out was SW and what Trev was in wasn't there for me. Hence a short flight and a big stack in the bomb out. Not happy Jan! So after I destroyed my antenna and stuffed my wrist, shoulder and both knees. I decided that launching at Beechmont when the wind in the bombout was anything west was an extremely bad idea and I was a dickhead for even launching. Anyway I'm glad that the guys that launched from Hinchcliff generally had a good flight and Old Trev, the legend that he is got up.

See ya on the hill.

Sundays Tambo to Jacobs well flight

Hi all.

Just wanted to say what an awesome day last Sunday was. I arrived at Tambo launch at around 10.30 with Joel and we had no driver. Rob launched and seemed to stay up ok. Well, the wind was about 15knts, and from the SW. I caught up with Rod and asked if there was a task. He said no, but some were thinking of heading to Jacobs Well. Awesome I thought. I've always wanted to go East.

I jokingly said to Joel, "Here's the plan, I'll fly xc, you topland and drive." "Yeah, right!" says Joel. I really just hoped we both went xc and worried about getting the car later.

Anyway, Joel launched after a couple of pilots, then I launched about 15 mins later. Then lots of people launched. Soon there was about 15 or so in the air. Everyone seemed to top out at around 3000ft and it was quite windy. Then I heard on the radio that Big Trev and few others were heading off. Damn, I thought, as I wanted to tag along.

So with a few pilots in the bomb out and some gone east, I just searched for some good lift for another hour. I saw Joel topland and thought I might just do the same. 10 more minutes I thought. Then suddenly on the north point Neil and myself got some good thermal action and soon found ourselves high enough to head off. Yeh ha!! So, with frozen fingers we headed NE. Lucky Joel toplanded. I told him where we were and he headed East after stuffing his face with Subway.

Soon we were crossing the M1 near Strawberry Farm. I couldn't believe how awesome the views were.


I got low just over the M1 but eventually found some lift and made it to where the others had landed at Jocobs Well. Rod was still in the air there after flying around there for an hour enjoying the views.


I flew around for a while too and was able to take a few snaps and a movie. Then just before the seabreeze kicked in I saw a big thermal on the surface of a lake which looked pretty cool.

Then Rod landed, I followed and Neil landed last. Joel turned up just as I finished packing up and we went to strawberry farm for an ice cream before heading home. Thanks for the pick up Joel. It was definitely a flight I'll never forget.

See you on the hill.