On Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 2:52:35 PM UTC-5, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:

Three buttons on top labeled 10, 5, 2 that start a count down timer for that number of minutes. Usually the CD will announce "ten minutes to gate open", etc. and you hit the "10" button.

Just a caution on this from someone who almost got skunked by it. CD announces the time the task will open. That is the only time that matters. His 10, 5 or other calls do not make a bit of difference. If his watch is off, you will be off. Note the time announced, and be aware of that.

My story. Storms building on course towards the first turnpoint. Circling in lift near the edge of the cylinder. CD announces "Task is Now Open". I wasn't looking at actual time, but was relying on CD to be "right". Took one more insurance time turn under the top and inside, then zoomed up and finished the climb before heading towards the growing storm. Guess what? I started about 5 seconds before the gate opened via GPS time.

I talked with the scorer, told him what had happened, and asked him to check the CDs watch with official GPS time. I told him how much I thought his watch was off. I was within 2 seconds. I was given a valid start and learned a lesson.

You can use the 2 minute timer, but read what Garret said and make sure you don't start that timer until your LOGGER says you are below the top of the start cylinder. Got myself a start penalty by finding out after the fact that my logger had increasing error with increasing altitude and was reporting my altitude as about 150 or so feet higher than pressure altitude at top of start gate height for that contest. Lesson: If you are going to cut things that close, know your equipment inside and out, forwards, and backwards.

Steve Leonard