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GRADE : SPORT (no Basic pilots, >200flights + local instructor guidance needed).
DESCRIPTION: Soaring. The most awesome and complex of the Peninsula sites, overlooking Cape Town city. Table Mountain has a presence, an energy that commands respect the moment you step outside the cablecar. The wind swirls around the mountain in shifting currents, making takeoff judgement critical.
WIND : N, WSW, SE GPS : it's not that hard to miss. Look up.
LAUNCH : A treacherous cliff-launch. N-wind : 'The Runway' is on the front face, looking out over Cape Town, just beyond Platteklip Gorge. The layout area is near the edge of the cliff, on flat rock. Expert handling of reverse launch is essential. As you run towards the cliff, be prepared for the lip rotor and turbulence that can cause sudden sink. Leaning forwards in the harness, ready to run is essential, as you cannot afford to go off the edge with a slack glider. SW wind : 'The Gully' faces SSW, and is behind the cable-car station. You have to walk away from the station along the top of the mountain for a few minutes to reach the launch site. Layout over the low bushes and rocks. Immediately after takeoff, you will find yourself in a gully, soaring along the south-facing north side of it. You soar out of the gully and onto the main rock faces which form the Twelve Apostles. Light ESE : Maclears Beacon' site is 100m E of Maclear's Beacon, just below a rocky ridge (30 minutes hike from the Upper Cablecar Station in an E direction).
ALTITUDE : 1000m asl, airspace ceiling is at 1200m.
LANDING : LaMed, or the more challenging rugby field in Upper Orange St.
CAUTIONS : Don't take a chance if you feel unhappy. This site is extremely unforgiving, and local knowledge is invaluable. Two signoff flights are required from each launch site before going completely solo, it's that difficult.
DIRECTIONS : Follow the signs through Cape Town to the Cable-car (up Kloof Nek road, turn left at the crest).
CARETAKER : Glen PG Club (who keep the register of Approved TM pilots).
PERMISSION : You need to be properly licensed and guided to fly here. 2 guided flights are needed from each launch site before flying solo. If you tell the ticket office that you are paraglider when you buy your Cable Car one-way ticket (up) you should be able to get a free return ride (down) should you not fly. Regular pilots should buy a Wild Card (covers all sites in Cape Peninsula Park).
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