On Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 12:30:06 PM UTC-4, Paul T wrote:
What is disappointing is how the new handicaps have played out in Club
Class - now to be competitive it looks like you need to buy a ship costing
at
least 10k more than you would have had previously. Way to go FAI with
your constant efforts to turning soaring into a 'rich persons sport', and
work
against the growth of the sport.

I see two Standard Cirrus in the top five? One ASW-20 (late 70's), two SZD-55 (late 80's) designs. Seems representative. 55's also came in 12, 28, and 30th. ASW-20's also came in 7th, 34th, 39th... The handicaps may have worked, with spreads of results based on pilot performance. If you are good enough, a Standard Cirrus is still up there - which is what club class is supposed to be all about. There are a lot of gliders between current Standard and 15m with no place for non-handicapped competition without slowly adding to club class ranks.

One man's opinion...