Lennox Heads/Byron Bay SE???

[windsock]

I'm going down around Byron Bay late next week and It looks like the wind is turning from a perfect NE to a SE. I was wondering if anyone has flown in these parts in a SE wind direction (Sean & Ezza you might have an idea).

I was looking at Google Earth and it might be possilbe at Lennox head if you walk around the trail a bit. I've attached images of where I'm thinking about.

Any other ideas would be great, Skenners Head (next headland south) might be a go but looks harder to get to.

[felix]

now those look like some great sites

[ezza]

Hey Windsock,

Yes Lennox is one of the best beach sites you will ever fly. Great in anything from NW to SSE. In a Northerly the slope tends to be dominated by hangliders. This is the only direction they can fly in. The slope has a perfect curve like a skateboard ramp, with a nice vertical section at the top. You could fly a brick, in strong winds, but you can fly just about anything when it is 5-10 knots. Launching on an easterly can be a little nerve racking as you can not feel any wind. Also good for ds'ing. The wind travelling up the slope vertically makes a nice big rotor, with plenty of dead air. Just have to be careful of the odd tourist as usual.

Skennars is another beauty. Heaps and heaps of landing area and not many walkers/tourists. Not as high as Lennox but much, much longer. Flyable from north to south but best if there is some east in the wind. Skennars is where I hope to try some F3F one day.

As far as flying in a SE, you can up at Lennox, just don't fly to far to the North. Stay in that big bowl or go down to the lower cliffs at the southern end. Skennars is also flyable but the cliff is lower at the the southern end. Still fun, with close in flying and as much landing area as you like.

Give us a call when you are down(I need to get out for a fly as well). Nige and Airtime are also very keen local flyers.

Eric

P.S. Thanks for the new weather link.

[windsock]

Thanks for that Ezza. I get down on the 1st and will be there for two nights. At this stage I'm hoping to get out on the 2nd for a fly.

I'll give you a call.

Cheers,

Gerard

[windsock]

Well I'm back from my trip down at Byron bay. Unfortunately the weather and family commitments left very little time to get out for a fly. However I did manage a quick fly on Friday, on the way to Ballina.

It was a little nerve racking flying the plane off the cliff at Lennox Head, there wasn't a great deal of lift when I was there.

I would have liked to catch up with Ezza and the guys but timing was a problem with a 9 month year old in the car.

I might have only had 20 minutes of flying time but it left me fully pumped, however that might have been the walk up and down the cliff

[Pij]

I might be heading down that way soon - my sister from Coraki has been asking when I'm coming. Can you give me any tips on flying spots I must try while I'm down that way?

[ezza]

Nice one Gerard. Good to see you threw it off the big cliff. Pretty good hey. As it turned out I was too busy as well.

Catch you next time.

Eric

[ezza]

Jan 4, 2009 9:28:19 GMT 10 Pij said:

I might be heading down that way soon - my sister from Coraki has been asking when I'm coming. Can you give me any tips on flying spots I must try while I'm down that way?

Hi Pij,

Send me an email when you are down; [e-mail]

I'll hook you up. I might not be in town between the 15th-27th of Jan.

Nige and Astan are also keen flyers down this way.

Eric

[Pij]

Thanks Ezza, will do.

[windsock]

Jan 4, 2009 9:28:19 GMT 10 Pij said:

I might be heading down that way soon - my sister from Coraki has been asking when I'm coming. Can you give me any tips on flying spots I must try while I'm down that way?

Look at the Google earth before you go down and study the area and the direction the cliffs face at. You may need to walk around to select the right cliff face. Also make sure that you feel there is enough lift. The day I went the lift wasn't coming up at the best angle but it really didn't matter as I had my powered Komet

[Pij]

I may be heading down from Thursday, for maybe a week or so. Ezza, could I please phone you while I'm in the area? PM me and we can exchange numbers.

I've checked out Google Earth from Cabarita to south of Yamba. Lots of options. Evans Head will be the most local to where I'm staying, but probably not the best choice.