The Hong Kong Radio Control Soaring Society organized a bungee and handlaunch glider duration contest on Sunday, 31 August 2003. The venue is in Sham Chung within Sai Kung West Country Park and near Tolo Harbour. A total of 28 participants gathered in Sam Pui Chau early in the morning. The boat ride took us to Sham Chung was enjoyable enough. We arrived in Sham Chung at 10:30am. The competition was started at 11:00am, first with the handlaunch duration contest in the morning and then the bungee launch contest in the afternoon. Totally 16 pilots joined the contest and there were 8 rounds of competitions for each pilot. There were 4 pilots in each round. The handlaunch contest was successfully completed before lunch. The winner is C.M. Cheng with a score of 31. Congratulation! He won 7 rounds with 4 marks each and a second position from one round with 3 marks. What a wonderful success for his discus launching technique and of course with the stunning performance of his Lucia HLG. The longest duration of the day for handlaunch contest, however, goes to Chester Tai with the stunning 1 minute 28 seconds. The store owner had prepared some noodle and congee for us as lunch and of course we also have consumed a lot of beers and drinks. The bungee launch contest was started right after the lunch. Four bungee cords were setup and most of the pilots have no problem with the cords. The biggest problem, however, is the hot sun! The measured ground temperature went up to 40 degree, almost everybody was in a state of dehydration! Y.C. was even giving up the contest as he was too tired after helping to set up the bungee cords. In the end, only three rounds of competitions for each pilot were successfully competed. The winner is Master Leung with a record of longest duration of 2 minutes 49 seconds followed by the first runner up Stanley. Because the prizes donated by our sponsor, Windrider Aviation Co., didn't go with us for the boat journey, the store owner in Sham Chung has kindly donated a few small prizes to us. A bottle of beer, two cans of Coke/Sprite and some bananas.  What a wonderful day!

 
We have set up two colourful tents to hide under the hot sun - thanks for the store owner and villagers

From the faces of our fellow pilots you will see the competition is tense

 
The flying site is particularly suitable for thermal soaring as it is surrounded by mountain and there are plenty of thermal activities

 
Stanley is ready to launch his Trendy

 
Chester got the highest score of duration in handlaunch contest - 1 minute 28 seconds, he must have caught a good thermal

See how they utilize the human power

 
Take it easy! C.M. has a gentle way to launch his Lucia. It is called "discus launch" - got it? This is the secret weapon C.M. used to win the contest.

 
Master Leung, you are always the first to EAT! 

Hi, would that be wonderful  to have a cold beer after hours under the hot sun?

Sure! We prefer to have two beers and plenty of water

Oh! Is it too hot for you - that little sailplane? Under the hot sun with temperature as high as 40 degree, everything can happen

 
"That's enough! I would rather like to jump into the water myself"

Stephen is ready for the bungee launch

Oh! Alex, how did you teach your plane the technique of bungee jump? Today competition is bungee launch not bungee jump!

The winner of today handlaunch contest, C.M., received his prize. What is it? it's a bottle of beer sponsored by the store owner! This is not a bad idea in a hot day.

The first runner up of the handlaunch contest, Ah Kin, also got a prize - a can of Coke

 
Wow! the third runner up, Ah Fu, got some bananas?

Master Leung is the winner of the bungee launch contest and the prize for him is a banana

 
Stanley is the second runner up in the bungee contest. His prize is also a banana

A group photo for us to remember. What a wonderful day!