Hawaii Tour 2008 - Day 4

Five Thermalling Hours betweek Kuno, Charlie, Natalie and I

Another rare light wind day so, with new tour arrivals Kuno and Charlie, Natalie and I drove to the southwest part of the island the thermals brew.

The hike up Nanakuli is somewhat grueling as you are working along an exposed spine in the hot sun without any significant breeze to provide cooling. Kuno and Charlie did great considering it was their first PG hike for sometime and were excited to get their first Hawaiian flights in!

Conditions on lower launch were moderate and slightly cross but nothing too challenging so Charlie (as he is want to do) launched first and quickly worked the face between middle and upper launch, gaining with each pass. After a few minutes of doing this, I suggested he get in a bit closer and bench up to the higher peak. Taking my advice, Charlie was soon at cloud base!

Kuno was next and it wasn't long before he and Charlie were in the white room (B-line stalls kept them clear!). Natalie launched next and, under radio instruction, had her first safe soaring flight, tallying over 35mins!

I launched last and didn't find much lift until the far end of the ridge at which point a good thermal broke off and I rode it to base. Aside from trying to avoid an overzealous visiting pilot who flew a bit too close for comfort, Charlie, Kuno, and I had a wonderful time - complete with a glide across the town where we tried to work what thermals we could find there (Kuno was a great marker!).

Welcome to Hawaii guys!