On Feb 10, 8:20*am, Rick Walters wrote:
John,

I was addressing Tom Knauff's comments. My horses have been in the
barn for years. The sports nationals have been won by a Nimbus 3, a
1-34, and everything in between. It is not what you fly but how you
fly it. Our honorable sport seems to be under threat from pilots that
reason away entering competition. Unless you are losing the 15m
nationals by 3% in your LS6, your glider is not your real handicap,
you are. Racing is fun and educational no matter your final placing.

Rick Walters

On Feb 10, 6:53*am, John Cochrane
wrote:



On Feb 10, 8:46*am, Rick Walters wrote: Tom,

Unless I am unaware of different handicaps used at the Senior
Championships, how can the Seniors be considered a level playing
field, yet the Sports class is won by span and wingloading?

Richard Walters

Hold your horses there a moment, Rick! "Sports class is won by span
and wingloading??" That's how Tim Mcalester won in a Libelle, and Dave
Stephenson won in a Foka? And the poor Nimbuses never can seem to
overcome their huge handicaps? Open class is won by span and
wingloading and dollar-loading maybe. Sports class is won by pilots.
John Cochrane

Tom was referring to Elmira in 2009 and Parowan in 2010. At Parowan
none of the true "Club Class" gliders got home when the task put us
across nearly unlandable terrain into the wind. Those with span, l/d
or wingloading could make the jump. In theory the handicaps work as
long as everyone can get around. Throw in the need to make a big
crossing of a gap or hole and the light ships with lower wingloading
have a higher risk of not getting home.

Tim