VHPA Site Guide - East Coast

Victoria - East Coast

Arthurs Seat

The National Parks Act 1975, Part 1, 4(a)(iii)provides for the use and enjoyment of those parks by the public for inspiration, solitude and appropriate self-reliant recreation.

This site is managed by Parks Victoria under the National Parks Act 1975. This site has been temporarily prohibited for use by Parks Victoria. Should you choose to launch from this site you may be in breach of the National Parks (Park) regulations 2003, Part 2, section 44(2) "A person must not, in a Park- (a) launch or land an aircraft."

Takeoff

Landing

There is no bombout, the nearest landing is Dromana Beach approx 1.5km. The beach is not very wide, particularly at high tide. However there are wider sections further along toward the lighthouse.

Flight

Make sure conditions are perfect before flying here, otherwise you may not make the beach. Only high performance gliders should be flown here.

Hazards/Comments

No close landing area. The flight out towards the landing area is not as hard as it looks, a Westerly wind is cross to your line of flight, rather than a headwind. If conditions are good, expect to lose around 500' on the way out and arrive over Dromana township with around 1000'.

Victoria - East Coast

Cairns Bay

Takeoff

Landing

You should top land here as well, the beach is very small (non existent at high tide) and very rocky. Quite a few injuries have happened here as a result of beach landings.

Flight

The flying beat is 1 km and down the coast to Flinders ramp as well as along the coast to the right but this can only be done in great conditions. Fly the bowl and around the cliff to the left of launch. Some great flying can be done here, the area suits a SW just great. Make sure you have at least 50' above the cliff top before venturing around the cliff to the left of launch and only fly around the point if the wind is straight on launch the rotor on the point has caused some moments of grief for some.

Soaring at Cairns Bay is a doddle, but can be very potentially dangerous if the wind is slightly cross to the West or East. If inexperienced pilots fly out and in front of the large cliff to left or right of takeoff, the rotor can be horrendous. Several severe accidents have taken place on this stretch of coast due to point-induced rotor - and there is nowhere to go but into the sea. Don't go out of the bay area on your own, or without talking to an experienced pilot first.

Hazards/Comments

Avoid Beach landings, as the beach is very small or non existent. Beware when flying around cliff corner on left hand side of Launch that you have enough height to get around - a number of pilots have been hurt in emergency landings due to insufficient height to capture lift band. Beware rotor/turbulence that can occur on point to left hand side of launch if wind is too cross.

Victoria - East Coast

Cape Liptrap

A beautiful coastal soaring site consisting of five large bowls and approximately 11km of low sand dunes. The five bowls cover a distance of about 3km. Launch is ideal for paragliding and adequate for hang gliders although not really steep enough. In a firm wind, launch is no problem.

Takeoff

Landing

Top landing only. Large 60m x 20m cleared area to the left of takeoff. From the air the landing area is clearly visible, do not fly beyond the roadway/powerline, you may find penetration difficult and undershoot into the tea trees.

Flight

Excellent flying, reminiscent of Flaxmans and Bells with superb views over Wilson's Promonotory.

Hazards/Comments

Do not fly at Cape Liptrap alone. The site is relatively remote and has few visitors. There is little or no mobile phone reception. Only fly this site in winds strong enough to stay up due to the lack of bottom landings. If the wind shifts to the west or south the points create turbulence. The bowl adjacent to the lighthouse faces SSW, the remainder of the coast faces SW. It is a long walk out if you bomb out on the beaches to the north.

Victoria - East Coast

Craigie Rd, Mt Martha

Takeoff

Landing

For hang gliders - on the beach at Mt Martha (2km south of takeoff) or the beach around the point to the right of takeoff (there's a steep track you can carry back up on). Experienced paragliders may land on top at takeoff in appropriate conditions only.

Flight

There is no decent landing area below takeoff for use as a bombout, so be conservative when evaluating takeoff conditions.

There is a point immediately to the right of takeoff. If the wind is too far north, it generates turbulence. The wind is usually off to the left a bit. Watch your wings - we've had a few low hour pilots drop the left hand wingtip on takeoff and end up in the bushes.

The site is sensitive the local council are not really keen on us flying there, so be polite and careful at all times. Keep an eye on the wind lines. In general, the winds on the bay tend more southerly with time. You should be able to see a southerly swing coming and make it to the appropriate landing area before it gets to you.

Site highlights include resident magpies who nest in the trees near the Dava pub, who will wait in the tree till you get close, then fly up to attack the trailing edge of your sail. They do no damage. It is possible in some winds to take a one way trip down to Mornington beach.

Victoria - East Coast

Eagles Nest

The National Parks Act 1975, Part 1, 4(a)(iii)provides for the use and enjoyment of those parks by the public for inspiration, solitude and appropriate self-reliant recreation.

This site is managed by Parks Victoria under the National Parks Act 1975. This site has been temporarily prohibited for use by Parks Victoria. Should you choose to launch from this site you may be in breach of the National Parks (Park) regulations 2003, Part 2, section 44(2) "A person must not, in a Park- (a) launch or land an aircraft."

Eagles Nest consists of two bays. Defined walking tracks from the base to the top are to be used for carrying gliders back up. Due to new car park development and sensitivity of the site, only one glider on launch at once.

Takeoff

Landing

Landings at the bottom are safest, however top landings over 300m from the cliff edge have been achieved but are risky.

Flight

Good flying for paragliders or floaters. Due to the small restricted beach landings, not ideal for higher performance gliders.

Hazards/Comments

If the wind is E or S the points produce turbulence.

Victoria - East Coast

Flinders Golf Club

A ground ramp and a good set up area.

Takeoff

Landing

Beach landing only.

Flight

From the Bowl, ADVANCED pilots can enjoy a trip up the coast to the Blow hole point, about 1.6km away.

You may wish to take a vario. It is common in summer for quite bouyant bubbles of air to lift from exposed rock areas on the beach. Some have spent many happy times floating about 700ft above takeoff riding these bubbles whilst less fortunate souls without varios whiz about only one or two hundred feet above launch.

Hazards/Comments

The Flinders area has proven to be a very popular, versatile paragliding and hang gliding venue. The golf course take off area and recovery steps make it that much safer and easier. When the wind is SW, give it away, the turbulence in the corner has nearly claimed some of our more experienced pilots. From time to time this site is still in danger of being lost due to landings on top, and driving the wrong way down the one way road. Beach landings are easy and safe, and will ensure that we keep the golfers happy.

Flinders Bowl (golf course)- Special rules apply to this popular and sensitive site.

• Half hour maximum flight time if other pilots are waiting to launch.
• No aerobatics anywhere near the ramp.
• No top landings.
• No wraps on the golf course
• Walk up the cliff on the paths only.
• Do not fly in front of the Naval gunnery. The guns are still in use!
• Do not use the launch next to the Naval gunnery. This is a security issue for the Navy.

In addition to the above rules always allow HG to establish their flight after T/O, beware of spectators, and radio controlled gliders. Their operators do not always appreciate the danger they can be to pilots. Accidents that have occured here have been due to scratching in light winds. These rules are simple, obey them or the site WILL be lost.

Victoria - East Coast

Flinders Monument

A cliff edge launch, more difficult than the golf club launch.

Takeoff

Flight

From the Monument the trip up to Shoreham is exciting. Generally flown in October/November when there is lots of easterlies, this site has a difficult cliff takeoff and often major tubulence low on the cliffs.

It can be very difficult to get up in light conditions. in fact, in very light conditions it can seem soarable, but there appears to be some form of thermal block which destroys lift below cliff level. In good conditions, however, excellent height can be achieved, and you can fly all the way down to Shoreham, though it is very difficult to get all the way back. (You need a touch of North in the wind for this).

The boats anchored by the pier in front of the site offer a good indicator of wind direction. There is an excellent, and usually wide beach available to the right for landings, and plenty of lawn beside the car park there to pack up on.

Hazards/Comments

The Monument works in an Easterly wind direction and gets a bit wild when it blows up to 20knts. The takeoff can be difficult. DO NOT under any circumstances fly in close to the cliff after take off if you are below the top of the cliff. Landing in the vacant land down the road to the North end of the ridge should only be attempted after discussing the hazards with a local flier. Beach landings are safer, but can still be tricky as it is a narrow beach with turbulence at the base of the near vertical cliff. The Monument site can be beautifully smooth when blowing 14-18 kts and straight on, but we have seen more near serious accidents here than possibly any other Victorian site. The takeoff for paragliders is VERY tricky.

Victoria - East Coast

Kilcunda

The Graveyard site consists of dunes on the stretch of coast between the town of Kilcunda and Cape Patterson, and is suitable for STUDENT rated pilots upwards. It may be soared, and offers a glide for learners when the tide is out.

In June 2009, Launching from the disused railway embankment within the coastal reserve close to town has been temporarily prohibited for use by Parks Victoria and VHPA.

Flight

In lighter winds, the dune takeoff at the Graveyard (on west side of the path in to the beach) is preferred for hang gliders, as the embankment take off further West around the rocky point is quite low and is suitable only for stronger winds.

The dune face is broken and uneven further to the East, but there's a good high soarable dune face about 400m long at the Graveyard takeoff. In a good wind (15kts), it is eminently soarable, but beware - this site has claimed a life in light winds when scratching the low dunes.

Hazards/Comments

The takeoff at the Graveyard is directly above a popular surf fishing spot, so beware of people and fishing equipment on the beach when landing.

The Graveyard launch does have a limited takeoff run. It has become very overgrown, so watch out for undergrowth snagging the hang glider control bar on the takeoff run. Paraglider, student and novice pilots should consider walking along the beach to the East about 150m and launching from some less overgrown although lower dunes.

There is very little beach at low tide.

Be careful not to catch a wingtip in the face of the dunes when scratching if the wind is light.

Victoria - East Coast

Portsea

The site is within the Mornington Peninsula National Park so pilots should respect and enjoy the environment. Most importantly that means take-off cleanly from the ramp, land on the beach and return via the main access track. NO scrambling up and down the cliffs or dunes!

Takeoff

Landing

On the beach in front of launch. Watch for sloping sand.

Flight

The total flyable distance is 8km. When flying below the point to the left of takeoff, be wary of the slight rotor which has claimed many kites.

Flying to the Rip should only be attempted when the wind is off to the right (south) at takeoff.

The dangers to watch out for are:

• The rotor behind London Bridge (more than one glider has crashed behind the Bridge).
• At high tide there is no landing area on the beach at some sections.
• The points in between the bays can be hazardous, and even more dangerous if the run is attempted with a wind which is not off to the right at takeoff. If at any stage of the run you should land, a long hard walk is in front of you, and if you are injured, help may be some time in getting to you.

On an average day, heights of 300ft or so above launch are normal. The site record is probably held by Ken Hess in an Icarus V, with about 1000ft above, back in the late 70's.

Hazards/Comments

Spectators crowding around the takeoff and landing area, small or nil landing area at high tide, and power lines near the life saving club.

Victoria - East Coast

Shoreham

Takeoff

Landing

Landing is easiest by flying around the point to Shoreham beach

Flight

There is a beat of up to 1km. An easy 100' to 150' above Launch and up to 500' above Launch achievable. This site can be only usually flown with a good ESE wind as takeoff is quite low and the cliff is not that steep. However once up and flying it can be quite good.

Hazards/Comments

For paragliders this site has a very limited range of flyable conditions. If it is windy enough to get up from the low takeoff there is a danger of being blown back once higher.

Victoria - East Coast

Sunnyside

Coastal cliff adjacent to the Mornington Golf Course

Takeoff

Landing

The main landing area is the beach adjacent to the carpark. It is very short and very narrow. Suitable for paragliders or low performance hang gliders. Landings on top are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. DO NOT land in the golf course.

A much larger beach is located at Mornington, along the cliffs to the left, but watch out for signposts planted in the sand.

Flight

Once in the air, the main beat is around a kilometer long, however on a good day pilots can cross the carpark and fly down to Mount Eliza, total distance is around 8km. There are plenty of well shaped bowls along the ridge and good height can be obtained.

Hazards/Comments

Practically no landing area, strong wind gradients on certain days, and golfers complaining about pilots upsetting their tee-offs. Please do not fly directly above the mansions towards Mornington, many of the land owners get very irate.