IGC 13.5m class discussion

On Jan 28, 10:05*am, John Cochrane
wrote:
So where are you going to race a PW5 in a few years? You'll be toast
in 13.5 meter class. The club class is growing and they won't let you
in.

Just to be clear, the reason the Club Class is keeping to a restricted
handicap range and specified gliders within that range is that it
makes for better handicapped racing. Its a well proven concept (except
here in the US) and draws from a LARGE number of relatively affordable
gliders worldwide ( and could from @ 1100+ just on the US register).

I know that the PW is very competitive against ships like the Libelle
- I know because pilots at PW Worlds waxed me with their PW's. But you
can not task the current Club Class ships with a PW on assigned tasks
(which many pilots still love and want to fly) and expect both to get
a "fair shake."

A Club Class "B" is an excellent idea to keep these ships racing - but
what are the raw numbers of potential gliders in a "B" Club Class? and
how many would turn up at a contest? We have an idea but we simply
don't know. But like with IGC Club Class here in the US, if we want to
explore the concept, we need to run the contests. Then let the chips
fall where the interest is actually generated.

Tim McAllister EY

On Jan 28, 4:55*pm, Tim wrote:
On Jan 28, 10:05*am, John Cochrane
wrote:

So where are you going to race a PW5 in a few years? You'll be toast
in 13.5 meter class. The club class is growing and they won't let you
in.

Just to be clear, the reason the Club Class is keeping to a restricted
handicap range and specified gliders within that range is that it
makes for better handicapped racing. Its a well proven concept (except
here in the US) and draws from a LARGE number of relatively affordable
gliders worldwide ( and could from @ 1100+ just on the US register).

I know that the PW is very competitive against ships like the Libelle
- I know because pilots at PW Worlds waxed me with their PW's. But you
can not task the current Club Class ships with a PW on assigned tasks
(which many pilots still love and want to fly) and expect both to get
a "fair shake."

A Club Class "B" is an excellent idea to keep these ships racing - but
what are the raw numbers of potential gliders in a "B" Club Class? and
how many would turn up at a contest? We have an idea but we simply
don't know. But like with IGC Club Class here in the US, if we want to
explore the concept, we need to run the contests. Then let the chips
fall where the interest is actually generated.

Tim McAllister EY

I am embarrassed. I thought the new 13.5 meter class was to be
handicapped. I should have been better informed before making a
comment.

Bill Snead
6W