Op maandag 20 januari 2014 21:21:11 UTC+1 schreef :

On Monday, January 20, 2014 3:03:41 PM UTC-5, J. Nieuwenhuize wrote:
Why not use the total height? So height (AGL) plus potential height (speed²/(2*a)) That makes ballistic pull-ups useless, allows, actually favors smooth finishes. Then set the total height rather high and substract one point per feet too low.

Simply put- because this becomes a pilot and scoring nightmare. Note that each glider converts kinetic energy to potential energy differently.
UH


Not really; in fact they do it exactly the same way. Even an unballasted club class glider looses only a few percent (due to drag during the pull-up). Since virtually all pilots fly with a TE energy system and rely exclusively on it, I highly doubt it'd be a pilots nightmare.

The ideal finish with a fixed height finish line/circle (or point substraction when too low) is fairly straightforward; fly at best MC, say 100 kts and pull up agressively, just before the finish ring. Exactly the opposite of what you'd want...

A hard deck within - say - 4 miles from the finish line is a simple alternative. Get below finish height and you're scored as a land-out.