The 2024 Central Districts competition at Waipukurau started on Saturday 17th February with practice day. This saw fantastic convergence and thermal lift which allowed a number of gliders to fly up and around Lake Taupo and back with distances of over 500km recorded. A great start for the week.

Sunday was a contest day with good thermals and convergences. A steak BBQ evening meal was appreciated by all.

The weather on Monday was untaskable but the sky was alive with energy from wave. This saw the Gliding Hawkes Bay & Waipukurau Grob 103 C III SL (GHB) soar north of Napier, south of Takapau and around the area between the clouds at up to 9,500ft.

Tuesday saw a task set but cancelled due to persistent low cloud and drizzle.

Forecasts for Wednesday were not promising but the sky delivered and an adventure task was set for the Open Class. Flying turned out to be an adventure with Pat Driessen perhaps setting a record for the longest retrieve by landing at Taupo. However, contest Director Graham White was up to the task and had Pat and his glider back at Waipukurau by Thursday morning briefing. Local farmer James Foreman supplied lamb for a BBQ evening meal which was followed by blackberry and apple crumble which went down a treat.

A weak local sky greeted pilots on Thursday with broken local thermals proving difficult to work. This saw a number of pilots landing out. Rotisserie chicken was on the menu and well earned after a hard days flying and retrieving.