Paragliding Long Bay

The Long Bay paragliding site, located at the southern end of Long Bay near a pedestrian walkway from the end of Cliff Road, Torbay, is currently closed as of September 2015. The site has become very restricted due to property development, vegetation growth along the cliff edge, and Council fencing. An alternative site in the Long Bay Regional Park was developed but later closed due to subsidence and changes in Council permissions. The Club is working with the Council to obtain approval for a new launch site within the Park, but until then, there is no approved site for paragliding in the Park. The launch area is small and suitable for northerly winds, but launching in a north-easterly direction is not feasible. The designated landing area on the beach is between the cliffs and the boat ramp, with caution advised during crowded summer months. Weather conditions suitable for this site include north and north-east winds. Pilots should be aware of potential wind shifts to the north, which can make returning to the launch area difficult due to reduced lift and limited landing options, especially on sea breeze days. The site is within VFR Transit lane T157 with a height restriction of 1200 ft A.S.L. Flying is only permitted on the seaward side of the cliffs, as the landward side is Whenuapai controlled airspace. For communication, use Site Radio Channel 20 - 476.900MHz. Paragliding at this site requires a PG 2 rating and 60 hours of flight experience. For more information, visit [Cloudbase Paragliding Club](https://www.cloudbase.org.nz/site-guide/flying-site-long-bay). Site Monitor: Laurence Robinson (Robo) - Ph: 09 449 2101 Notable flights from this site include Jeff Ripley's flight to Milford Beach and Lyn Watkins' flight to Torbay in 1999.