On Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 4:16:09 PM UTC-7, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
I like hearing/giving start times too, but it is only useful information for the first leg of a TAT. After that it's pretty much irrelevent. Sean, even if you knew the start time of the other pilot, you would have no way of knowing how deep he/she went into the last turn point, so when you were flying neck and neck either one of you could be way ahead of the other. It's often the last pilots to land that win the day...

Matt

A crew person can report your start time, see below.

10.8.8 Start time reporting
The CD may require pilots to report their start times by radio. The following rules apply:
10.8.8.1 To avoid a penalty (Rule 12.1.4.6), a start time must be reported within 15 minutes after the start is made, and must be
accurate within 2 minutes.
10.8.8.2 Beginning no later than the time of task opening, a contest official designated by the CD shall monitor the contest
frequency, maintain an official list of reported start times and the time the report was received, and confirm receipt of reports.
10.8.8.3 Crews may report start times for pilots by appearing in person before the official designated by the CD.
10.8.8.4 Deliberate mis-reporting of start times can be penalized as Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Penalty described in Rule 12.2.5.3.)


A different note

On the World level, we reported our start time to our Team captain on our Team frequency. He then submits the time to the CD/Scorer. These start times are checked very carefully and a minor penalty can be applied. Whats extremely important is the Team Captains give precise "time hacks", so the reported time is accurate.

You do not hear when the other countries pilots start over the radio.

UH, is right, as to the "old school" thought on this. Now, at some contests, we are asked to just announce "711 start" with no time, then the CM knows we have gone out on course.

IMHO, a start time is not required, yet a simple "711 start" call should be considered.

Best. #711