SINCE Boxing Day, skydivers from all around Australia and overseas have been dropping in over Moruya and Broulee’s stunning coastline for the Caravan on the Coast III.
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More than 150 licensed skydivers have taken off from Moruya Airport in preparation for either the Australian skydiving nationals, which are next week in Victoria, or an attempt at the largest Australian formation record, set for May in the USA.
Senior instructor Jules McConnel said three coaches, among them including the Australian free-flying record holder, were working on either formation skydiving, free flying and wing suiting.
“Because the nationals are next week a few groups will move on south from this event,” McConnel said.
“It’s their last training camp before they compete.”
For the past five days Australian record attempt state mentor Tracey Basmen has guided the parachutists who will tackle the record attempt.
The group began with 8-way jumps before moving on to 12, 16 and 25-way jumps.
A 25-way jump is the largest size formation the group can practise at Moruya and Basmen believed it was good training.
“We prepare ourselves with the same principles on an 8-way or 25-way,” Basmen said.
The current Australian record of 112 was set with five planes in 2010.
In the US in May, the group will line up seven planes in a V-formation and 150 people will have to jump as quickly as possible to ensure the formation can form.
Australia may not have the aircraft for the divers to attempt the record here, but Basmen was rapt with facilities at Moruya.
“The location is awesome,” she said.
“You jump out over the beach and the view is amazing.”
McConnel was also pleased by the feedback she had received from visiting jumpers.
“I had a comment from a young jumper, who’s recently been to the USA, saying it was like an event there, so it shows i’ts world-class, which is cool,” she said.
