On Friday, May 24, 2013 1:28:37 PM UTC-6, Tom Kelley #711 wrote:
Now, this is the current rule, please read it:



10.9.2 Finish Cylinder

10.9.2.1 A task shall include a Finish Point not more than 2 miles from the home field and a Finish Radius not greater than 2 miles.



10.9.2.2 ‡ Minimum Finish Height

10.9.2.2.1 ‡ Each task shall include a Minimum Finish Height (MFH), set by the CD at least high enough that pilots who obtain

a valid finish can return to the home airfield for a normal pattern and landing.





The rules committee and the SSA BOD has established this as a RULE. It now requires the CD to set "AT LEAST HIGH ENOUGH" that .......for a ""NORMAL PATTERN"" and landing.



Sean Fiddler F2, or anyone else, after reading the above, is this a RULE as it reads or is it meant to be guidance as John C. says it is? It sure doesn't say guidance anywhere as I read it, but its a requirement!



Tom Kelley #711.

Below is the guidance for the CD. The guidance does not over power the rule.. The CD is required now to set the MFH so you, the entrant, shall be able to fly a normal pattern and landing.


A10.9.2 ‡ Cylinder Finish
A cylinder finish means that the race does not end at the airport, rather it ends at a defined altitude and distance from the airport. Use of the
cylinder for a finish is desirable in a number of circumstances including:
1) The contest is held at a public-use airfield where the field is open to non-contest traffic during the finish
2) The contest includes a Regional Sport class
3) A finish line creates the potential for low energy finishes over densely populated or busy areas (e.g. roads)
4) Any other circumstance that creates safety issues for a line finish.

In setting the Minimum Finish Height (MFH), the CD should take into account expected weather, glider performance, pilot skill and experience
and local traffic. The goal is for all pilots to be able to safely merge into the pattern, land normally, and roll safely clear.
Note that the MFH is the minimum height for a penalty-free finish. Because a valid finish (with a very small penalty) may be up to 200 ft below
the MFH (to accommodate instrumentation errors), it is this lower height that should be considered when setting the MFH. Thus the MFH
should normally be 700 ft AGL, which avoids creating the big step in points (landout rather than speed finish) at 300 ft AGL.
When non-contest traffic is allowed during the time gliders are finishing, consider a MFH of at least 1000 ft. AGL at one mile, plus 200 ft per
mile beyond that with the goal that contest and non-contest traffic can be smoothly integrated into a normal pattern.