On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 10:02:06 PM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
I recently learned that Bruno has increased the number of gliders for the Nephi, UT event to 80. That's right, eight zero. IMHO, that is too many, even if FLARM is mandated. There will be pilots there from virtually zero cross country time to seasoned racers. They may be lulled into a false sense of complacency until a storm forces the entire field back to the airport at once, creating chaos. I get the bad feeling that this number will keep increasing - or stay the same - until there is a fatality.

2G,
I have to say that you don't have a very clear picture of the Nephi event. This year the airport (Which more than doubled in size a few years ago) had 6 areas that were landable and one could turn off the main runway into an expansive infield at any time. I have been in the pattern with 8 other gliders during last years contest and we all landed on the main runway with no stress. With cooperation and a well coordinated ground crew this is not a big deal. The airport is also surrounded by landable fields and you have to consider that without everyone bunched up in a start cylinder the chance of a mass landing is non existent. There were improvements this year in staging and landing (with penalties of being excluded from the following days flying) and things went very smooth. There is something to consider with Flarm, It does not replace diligence, it just makes scanning easier. I have found it more challenging to fly the contest at Air Sailing (Nevada) where most years there are 15 or so contestants but with Minden and Truckee busy ATC shows between 40-50 transponder equipped gliders in the air at any given time. Some of these people may or may not have the heightened awareness about a contest in the area. This is where the PF really pays for itself.
One of the big problems Bruno and the Utah Soaring Association have is that this format (And the site) have become hugely popular. The roster filled up in two weeks with a waiting list. Where else can you race all out, leisurely boat around the course with your buddies on a party line frequency, or ignore the task and go off on a personal best. Ive done all the above and this year I took the Hard working club president around the course in a club trainer which was something he had never done before. I suggest you hop in the car two years from now and try it out for yourself and then maybe you can make a little more educated posts.
Lastly, and you probably know this by now, don't start a post with "I recently learned" followed by stuff you know nothing about. It makes you look silly.