Eric Greenwell wrote in message

As I mentioned, I prefer assigned tasks, not the PST or the TAT, so
I'm with you on this one.

Me too. That's why any rule that starts playing with simple "fastest
wins" is bogus to me and my racing friends. I hate the PST, which is
why I won't race in sports class. As far as I'm concerned, a PST task
is just a bunch of guys going cross country. It in no way resembles a
race! (reminds me of the Monty Python idiots race skit).

I still don't understand what you are talking about: in a PST, there
is no "distance to go", it's a "time to go". Converting the time left
to distance is where I have problems, because there are two components
to the calculation: 1) cross-country speed (anticipated thermal
strength, so it's a guess) 2) final glide speed (depends on altitude
available, AND anticipated thermal strength, so it's a guess,too). So,
while I'm trying to race (getting the best XC speed I can), I'm also
juggling turnpoints, trying to figure which ones will make the task
long enough so I can fly as fast as possible, but still get home just
at the minimum time.

We were talking about AAT (TAT here in the US). I don't even want to
think about PSTs. Yuck. But I really do not understand why people are
worried about making the minimum time. Geez, before GPS, you really
had to navigate; now we just follow the needle and presto we get
around the course. Having to make a specific arrival time adds a
little more challenge. Car rallying, which absolutely depends on
going fast and hitting a time to the second, is an international
professional sport that is WAY more popular than soaring, by the
way...

If I were sitting at home, it'd be an interesting problem to work on,
but I don't think it's fun in a sailplane. With the 15 minute rule, I
feel I can drop the calculations and just concentrate on going fast,
because it's easy for me to pick a task that takes long enough, though
it might be 15-20 minutes longer than the minimum.

But the point is you can't! Despite what Cochrane and other 15 minute
supporters claim, you now have to factor in your speed, the thermal
strength, distance remaining, then decide whether to go slower but
farther, or faster but shorter. And the fastest glider does not
always win! THAT IS WHY IT IS A BAD SOLUTION TO A NON-PROBLEM!

I'd also prefer lower starts (5000' agl, say), and it might be safer
when the thermals are going higher, because there wouldn't be the
crowding at the top a thermal as every pilot tries to eek out the last
foot before starting.

I like lower starts, but if the thermals go higher, then you end up in
a weird "wind-up" at the top of the start altitude, camped out in the
thermal at high-G trying not to climb! I think we should go to a
start arc from the first turnpoint, with a max start height (like the
old start gate, but use GPS) but no limit on how high you go before
starting. I start anywhere on the line, below the line. At redline if
I want. If I misjudge, I go back and do it again. I'm pilot in
command, if I bust my ass it's my problem. It's a race, after all!

Over the years (25 in my case), at least in Regionals, it seems the
trend has been to shorten the task time. At Ephrata, we often have 3
hour tasks on 6 hour days. I'd prefer longer tasks of at least 4
hours, so we aren't flying only at the peak of the day, and spend some
time in weaker conditions.

I totally agree! And once you get to starting early (no high starts)
and finishing late (long tasks) you don't need no stinking 15 minute
kloodge rule!

Kirk
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