At 01:46 12 August 2015, Sean Fidler wrote:
p position.=20

Just a thought.=20

Sean=20


Im new at this racing and the pre-start tactics but most of the advice I
have been given either in person or from books is that I want to have some
gliders out in front of me (1/3rd to 1/2 of the field). If that is good
advice for me, then it is good for other pilots too and that might drive
all of us to wait for someone to start. It seems that the waiting drives
some of the behaviors that most find objectionable.

Sean offered a thought, please allow me one.

Rather than penalizing pilots who start late let the CD award PLUS points
(Admin or good sport points) for the pilots who are among the first to
depart on course. The caveats being that the pilot has to be in the bottom
half overall (relative standing could be used for the first days of a
contest), and has to stay on course, no return for another start and it
only covers xx number of contestants. XX being decided by the CD.

Perhaps this will break the surface tension on the start gate, give the
field markers to guide on, reduce leeching, and start congestion, and help
the bottom half of the field with better scores ( but not enough to change
the standings among the top competitors)

BZ