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The Bill Moyes Flight of the Year Award
In memory of Bill Moyes, founder of Moyes Gliders, we're proud to honour the most inspiring hang gliding stories from around the world. Whether it’s a flight that left you in awe, brought a deep sense of accomplishment, or created an unforgettable moment - we want to hear your story.
Congratulations to our March winner, Jeff St Aubin!
Jeff’s heartfelt and inspiring story comes from the Valle de Bravo Sport Class Competition, held in February 2025 in Mexico. For three of the past four years, Jeff has made the incredible 6,000 km round trip from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Valle de Bravo - a true testament to passion and dedication to the sport.
Jeff writes: On my first trip to Valle I had yet to ever fly cross country and this was my first competition. It was a major skill developer for me and opened me up to the global hang glider community and I haven't looked back since!
The journey sure is a haul but very worth it!
I wish I could have had the chance to meet Bill. Falling into hang gliding has without a doubt been the most positive life changing occurrence I have had and no other physical object has given me the amount of sheer joy and amazement my Gecko has, it truly is a wonder machine!
Many many thanks!
Jeff St Aubin
Jeff, your $200 Moyes voucher is on its way, and you've officially earned a spot in the Grand Final draw later this year. Well done!
Here is his story:
Bittersweet victory in Valle
By Jeff St Aubin
I launched first, and now I was low. It was the fifth and final task of the 2025 El Peñón Classic in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. I had had enough time to fly around and process some things, but with twenty minutes to go til the first start, I thought I had really botched things up. Sitting in fourth place in my fourth time competing at the event, I gave myself one last chance before accepting I had to land. Skirting by the lowest foothill, I slink my Gecko up the terrain in a slowly budding climb that soon disconnects from the pine-lined slope.
I was relaxed. More relaxed flying than I think I had ever been before. Two days beforehand we had lost a fellow competitor in lee side rotor. Five days before that, we had watched a paraglider spiral down without a reserve. Both images seared into my mind, it had been a heavy week for all of us. I searched in the air to regain the joy of flight... and I found it; in melding with my glider and sharing that with the friends around me.
No longer thinking about landing, I twirl above launch and join the others flitting in bubbles on the back ridge. We struggle to gain a hundred feet over when I see another Gecko running low toward the ridge rising from the magic elbow. I crank the VG and dive in, trusting there was enough breeze to surf us up the wall behind Peñón. On toward the mesa! We skim the treetops working that fine line of lift and control our Geckos excel at. A well-timed climb funnels us up for the start and we race down the spine to the first turnpoint. Turning back toward launch, I see the crew of homies I had been flying with for the last few weeks spread ahead of me in their U2s and Sport 3 Races.
The race is on! Zooming by el Peñón, we tag launch en masse and turn back for another lap. Zipping across the mesa’s converging lift, we wring the speed out of our sails and return barely above launch. With one more turnpoint before we break off toward Lago, they pick that same inside line of the back ridge. Seeing a group of Open pilots out front above the tower of el Peñón, I beeline it under them and hook an elevator ride up its limestone face. Returning to the clouds after tagging the cylinder over the back of the mesa, I chuckle as my friends scratch up from below the wall.
Taking my foot off the throttle, I think no more racing, XC mode; got to make it to the lake! Cloudbase was just over 10,500ft that day. I had made it to Lago from less than that before, but it was a nail-biter of a direct line. This task called for a longer dogleg approach, with one final turnpoint by the airport. Slowing it down to milk my glide, I divert over Penitas’ s rocky outcropping and turn my last few circles nibbling at lift. I take an 11:1 glide to goal as my cue to boogie. Sitting at 9,900ft, I needed to cover 13 km to reach the lake’s 6,070ft shore. I had nearly 4,000ft to play with and was reading an actual L/D of 30...40:1 displayed when I jetted downwind... Things looked pretty good! That is, until I was a few hundred feet above the stair steps, wading against the lake’s 10 mph headwind. I was swimming in sink! All I had was goal in front of me and needed just 7:1, but I was only getting 5:1... 6.... 5.... this is going to be close! It was a tense few moments until I slid through one final patch of lift. Not needing to turn, I slow it down until I see 4:1 to goal and scoot on in.
Completing the 35 km task in 46 minutes netted me first place in Sports Class and my first comp win. The next fastest pilot finished 12 minutes slower after taking the second start, leaving me alone in the LZ wondering where everyone else was for over twenty minutes. Despite having the third fastest time on the previous task, I had won the day on lead and arrival points, with four of us finishing within 35 seconds of each other over two starts and all averaging over 40 kph. It was then we watched our fellow competitor spiral down. Losing Chowy makes results seem pointless. But still we fly... and still we race... because we want to be in the sky with friends.
Jeff St. Aubin
Chattanooga, Tennessee USA
Moyes Gecko 155 Pro
How to Enter:
- Write about your most inspiring flight (minimum 250 words).
- Include photos or videos to bring your story to life.
- Submit via the Dropbox link below:
- https://www.dropbox.com/request/hYqCEArKJSzSjaS2qcYK
- or email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Note: Your flight must have taken place in this calendar year.
Prizes:
- Monthly winners will receive a $200 voucher and entry into the grand final.
- The grand final winner will get a $1000 voucher and their name engraved on the Bill Moyes Flight of the Year trophy!
- The winners will be chosen by the Moyes family. The monthly winners will be announced in the first week of each month, and the grand final winner will be revealed in January.
We can’t wait to see your stories! Fly high, share your journey, and celebrate the spirit of flight with us!
Category: Uncategorised
The Bill Moyes Flight of the Year Award
In memory of Bill Moyes, the founder of Moyes Gliders, we are proud to announce the Bill Moyes Flight of the Year Award. This special competition celebrates the spirit of flight, the courage to soar, and the inspiration that hang gliding brings to us all.
We want to hear your most inspiring flying story! It doesn’t have to be the longest, highest, or most daring flight, but it should be the one you consider most memorable and that truly captures the essence of flying your Moyes glider.
Winners
How to Enter:
- Share Your Story – Write about your most inspiring flight experience. What made it special? Why did it mean so much to you?
- Add Photos and Video – Show us your flight in action! Photos and videos will bring your story to life and let us feel the magic of your journey.
- Submit – Send your entry to the Dropbox link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/hYqCEArKJSzSjaS2qcYK
Prizes:
- Monthly Winners – Each month, the winning entry will receive a $200 voucher and will be entered into the finals at the end of the year.
- Grand Final Winner – The grand final winner will receive a $1000 Moyes voucher and, most importantly, will have their name engraved on the perpetual Bill Moyes Flight of the Year trophy.
The winners will be chosen by the Moyes family.
We’re excited to celebrate the passion for flight and the inspiring stories that continue to be written in the skies.
Fly high and share your story with us!
Terms & Conditions:
- Flights must be made on a Moyes glider.
- Submissions should be sent to Dropbox via this link:
- https://www.dropbox.com/request/hYqCEArKJSzSjaS2qcYK
- Minimum word count for stories: 250 words.
- All submitted stories, photos, and videos may be used by Moyes Gliders for promotional purposes.
- Monthly winners will be announced in the first week of the following month.
- The grand final winner will be announced in the first week of January of the following year.
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Moyes Demo Days USA 2025!
Three Exciting Events Across the USA
Easter in California 2025
Dates: Saturday, April 19th & Sunday, April 20th, 2025
Celebration: Sunday, April 20th, 2025
Location: Fort Funston, San Francisco, California
Registration : https://www.californiahg.com/moyes-demo-days-2025-at-fort-funston/
Florida 2025
Event 1:
Dates: Thursday, April 24th & Friday, April 25th, 2025
Celebration: Friday, April 25th, 2025
Location: Wilotree Park, 6548 Groveland Airport Road, Groveland, Florida
Registration : Below
Event 2:
Date & Celebration: Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Location: Wallaby Ranch
1805 Deen Still Road, Davenport, Florida
Registration : Below
What’s Happening:
- Test Flights with the latest Moyes gliders, including the NEW Skylite Malibu, NEW Carbon Gecko, and NEW RX Pro 2025.
- Fly with Legendary Pilot Jonny Durand! He’ll be on-site for glider familiarization and test flights.
- Supported by The Moyes Team including, Vicki and Greg Cain and your local Moyes dealers.
- Reconnect with the Hang-Gliding Community and celebrate our shared passion!
Register
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Vale Bill Moyes
12th July 1932 - 24th September, 2024
A letter to my dad.
Dear Dad,
You left this earth at 7 pm on the 24th September, 2024 after a short 30 hour stay in hospital. During those 30 hours all your kids, grandkids and great grandkids came to say their last goodbyes to you. There were 3 generations of your family by your side as you took your last breath. The whole family came together to comfort each other. We spent the next 6 days cooking, eating, laughing, and crying. Sharing memories, telling stories, and listening to Molly recall the last 73 years of your life together. It was so special . We set about arranging a celebration of your life rather than a funeral with a “paddle out” to scatter your ashes in the waves at Bronte where you were born and breed.
You were cremated on Monday, 30th September 2024, in a basic casket dressed in a plain shroud. Sorry, we couldn't arrange for the hang glider box casket like you wanted! Your ashes were placed in an urn created by your ceramicist grandson, Finn Lea, and a 2nd smaller urn for Molly.
We sent an Open Invitation to anyone who wanted to attend. Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects and to honour your legacy. Family, friends, Carers, hang glider pilots from Italy, Denmark, USA and locally from Queensland, Victoria and Forbes. People from all aspects of your life, people that you touched one way or another.
At 10 am on the 1st October 2024, on a glorious Spring day, with a light North Easterly wind blowing, we gathered at Bronte near the train tracks. Hannah had arranged a String Quartet to play your favourite Classics on the beach. Two of your grandsons, Rob and Jack, took charge of the Paddle Out and Rob opened with some very sentimental and funny words about you.
We lined the shore while Molly walked towards the water's edge, supported by her Grand Daughter Maddy and Great Grand Daughter Layla. Mum spread some of your ashes in the waves at the water's edge and saved some to be later scattered from a Dragonfly at Forbes.
The Paddle Out was tremendous with about 75 people, including some of your great grandchildren either on boards or swimming. Everyone was given a daisy, and we paddled out to behind the reef. Ben, Steve, Deb, Jen, and I were in the middle of the circle. Jack said a few tender words and then we had a minute’s silence as a gesture of respect and reflection.
Then one of your mates in a fire engine parked up on Tamarama Marine Drive starting honking their horn and sounding the siren. The Paddle Out erupted into cheers!
The time had come to release you into the waves. The 5 of us took turns scattering your ashes, around a wreath in your honour, while everyone scattered their flowers. We finished with very loud yahooing and splashing!
Steve had paddled out on the 1950 replica of your Bill Wallace wooden surf ski and caught a wave back to the shore to everyone's cheers.
Jono Whitty filmed the event by drone, and it's just amazing.
The Celebration of your Life took place at the Bronte Surf Club, and as a show of respect the Club had lowered the Australian flag to half-mast.
Hannah and the Bogey Hole Cafe catered for a delicious supper after the speeches.
Brendan and Jeremy, our close family friends from Innovative Lighting and Sound, set up the audio and visuals for the live streaming of the event.
Gui and Ivan from If the Florist, decorated the surf club with bright coloured bouquets and all the grandchildren helped to set up the event.
Your nephew, Pastor Ryan Carr was the MC.
We had seating for 200 family and friends with plenty of standing room behind.
Your 5 children with Ben in Suzy’s place sat up at the front to deliver your Eulogy. Yes, it took 5 of us!
Ben was first up and spoke of your early family history followed by your ideals for genealogy - tongue in cheek.
I was next up and spoke of your childhood and falling in love with your childhood sweetheart.
Steve followed with your flying exploits.
Then Jen spoke about your showground days.
Deb rounded out with your later years.
Jonny Durand and Richard Nevins spoke of their personal flying connections with you.
Then back to family and 3 grandkids, Maddy, Hannah and Kjell spoke of their life experiences with you.
All in all, we had planned proceedings to take 1 hour but with everyone feeling the emotions of the day we stretched it. Mostly we were laughing and crying at the same time.
You will be so so missed but never ever forgotten.
Your legacy is safe and will continue with all the hang glider pilots around the world.
I'm collating a book of all the emails and cards from your admirers into "The Book of Bill"
I hope we made you proud.
Vix
