|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 13, 2020 21:34:53 GMT 12
 This event is scheduled for next week, 17th to 21st March. Venue - Innes Common, Hamilton (plus planned outlier visits) Launch times - generally 7am Seems to be three special shapes this year: - Speedy Sanil from Canada - Cosmos - Rainbow Unicorn from Australia Anyone else planning to attend? |
|
|
|
Post by Mustang51 on Mar 14, 2020 13:01:31 GMT 12
My mate trev did the commentary and other for this some time ago. Says its a great show and very well worth visiting
|
|
|
|
Post by Brett on Mar 15, 2020 9:06:42 GMT 12
The public events portions of this event have been cancelled. The flying will continue.
From their Facebook page:
Coronavirus Version of Balloons Week!
As per the Government recommendations in regards to mass gatherings, Balloons over Waikato have made the decision to cancel public attendance at Innes Common for morning flying, The University of Waikato for Nightglow, and all other sub events associated with the Festival.
The event falls into the ‘mass gathering’ criteria as a free event that is non ticketed with attendees numbering over 1000 and therefore feel it is the right thing to do for our community.
We are extremely disappointed not to be able to deliver this amazing community event to the City and the region, but strongly support all measures put in place by the Ministry of Health and government to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on New Zealand.
The good news is, our balloons are here, our pilots are here, so we will be taking to the skies every morning from Tuesday to Saturday. Instead of coming to Innes Common, enjoy our Carnival of Colour out your window wherever you may be over the week.
To our partners, our volunteers, our service providers and our community, we thank you for your support.
Keep looking up, we’ll still be filling the skies of Hamilton with colour next week!
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 15, 2020 17:37:21 GMT 12
So where is the best place for visitors to Hamilton to go and get a good view?
|
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Mar 15, 2020 21:58:51 GMT 12
So where is the best place for visitors to Hamilton to go and get a good view? Up in a balloon, perhaps?! Errol |
|
|
|
Post by hardyakka on Mar 16, 2020 15:57:22 GMT 12
So where is the best place for visitors to Hamilton to go and get a good view? A lot depends on the wind direction. The best place to be amongst the action would be at the Innes Common launch point itself, but that is being closed to the public due to Coronavirus precautions. So, to watch the launch activity, the best alternative place is probably on the other side of the lake at the Lake Domain park off Ruakiwi Road ( Google maps link to Hamilton Lake Domain ). You look across the lake with the morning sun behind you, so it would probably make for good photos. "The Verandah" cafe opens at 8:00am so you can have a nice breakfast once the balloons have departed (lift-off is usually from about 7am). Other than that, any vantage point downwind is pretty good... which means look at the weather conditions each morning to see where they will go. |
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 16, 2020 20:49:30 GMT 12
Looks like the weather on Tuesday am will mean a no go anyway.
TAF NZHN 160510Z 1606/1706 22005KT 30KM FEW040
BECMG 1612/1614 13012KT
BECMG 1620/1622 15015G25KT
BECMG 1704/1706 15015KT
2000FT WIND 18015KT
BECMG 1613/1615 14030KT
QNH MNM 1006 MAX 1015
|
|
|
|
Post by Brett on Mar 17, 2020 11:43:58 GMT 12
Balloons Over Wairarapa, originally scheduled for Easter Weekend, has been cancelled. Many of the international attendees of the Waikato event also attend the Wairarapa event.
There is no separate thread for the Wairarapa event, and there is probably no point in starting one now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 22, 2020 8:39:27 GMT 12
Well they certainly had a rough week. No flying on Tuesday, low cloud and gusty winds. Wednesday and Thursday apparently went well. Friday, weather cancelled again. Yesterday, Saturday, Hamilton did its fog thing. Initial advice was that they would fly when it cleared, but by 9am they advised that no flying would take place. Due to Covid-19 precautions all of the publicly-accessible events were cancelled. Innes Common was apparently not used, and the launch sites were elsewhere. I arrived in Hamilton early Saturday, and fortunately my mole came through and directed me to Derek Heather park where several of the balloons were inflating. Some did not stay up for long, while others did hang around. The only actual ascent was VH-MKQ which did a few tethered lift-offs The largest balloon there was the Cameron VAN-110 G-ORAC special shape promoting the UK Royal Auto Club   while the only other special shape on-site was the Brazilian-built Balonismo N625UN 'Pink Unicorn' promoting Resene Paints  There were three Australian visitors: Kavanagh E-120 VH-ANJ promoting Northern Territory holidays  Cameron O-26 VH-EKP  and Cameron O-31 VH-MKQ  Local balloons on display were limited to: Cameron EGG-65 ZK-EGG from Christchurch  Cameron N-105 ZK-FBB from Hawera  Locally-based Boland 52-12 ZK-LOP  and the Waikato Hot Air Balloon Club's Cameron O-90 ZK-RYB  All in all, a bit of a frustrating week for all involved. |
|
