Contest Class Development for Future Success - The Case fordeveloping the Handicapped Classes

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 3:18:11 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thursday, July 17, 2014 12:04:59 PM UTC-7, wrote:



We probably need to discuss whether the objective is to limit the handicap range for more head to head racing or limit the range of pilots flying in Club Class.



If the objective is the first then the most productive thing to do is limit the low end of the performance range which really drags down tasking and is where almost all the spread in handicap is. If the objective is to exclude talented pilots then keep the modern standard class gliders out - there are a lot of very good pilots with no place to race right now. The facts don't support that those gliders should be excluded based on technical performance without ballast - quite the contrary. Data people - look at the data..



I expect IGC will include these ships in pretty short order so that may not be a good place to hang one's hat either.

I was not suggesting removing the "current" Std ships that are in the range.. I was commenting that I don't think they are advantaged.
I was suggesting cutting off the low performance end, probably at 1.02(Std Libelle) or so to try to make AT tasking reasonable, which it is not under the current "temporary" arrangement where Club has been co-located with Sports while it grew into viability.
Hopefully talented pilots will want to fly all the classes we have.
UH

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 1:44:47 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I was not suggesting removing the "current" Std ships that are in the range. I was commenting that I don't think they are advantaged.

I was suggesting cutting off the low performance end, probably at 1.02(Std Libelle) or so to try to make AT tasking reasonable, which it is not under the current "temporary" arrangement where Club has been co-located with Sports while it grew into viability.

Hopefully talented pilots will want to fly all the classes we have.

UH

Sorry UH - I replied to your post, but the comment was actually in response to earlier posts. I agree with you - a sensible handicap range of 0.915 (Discus CS) to 1.02 (Libelle) makes a lot of sense. Excluding gliders within that range does not appear to be based on any fact-backed logic that I can determine.

For those wondering where the young pilots are, look at the club class score sheet. Much lower gray hair ratio here than usual.

Exclude talented pilots? Now there's a morally bankrupt concept......


If the objective is to exclude talented pilots then keep the modern standard class gliders out - there are a lot of very good pilots with no place to race right now. The facts don't support that those gliders should be excluded based on technical performance without ballast - quite the contrary. Data people - look at the data.

Sean wrote: "D2 racing a 25 mile radius area task against a Libelle or Sarah's ASW-15? Seriously? Whats the point of that? How is that any different than Sports class? Look at the tasks they are flying this week actually. Might as well be OLC."

With tough conditions on both Day 1 and 2 that included high cirrus cutting off thermal activity in a large portion of the task area and a cloud base of approximately 3,000' AGL at task opening, the TATs assigned by the task committee enabled competitors to complete tasks on two very tough days. With landouts ranging from a Lak-12/ASG-29 to an Apis/Libelle speeds from the low 20s to mid 40s, it has been rough. If better weather presents itself, an AST would be possible in Club Class with the range of sailplanes flying.

Use of the multiple turn MAT is a nice alternative to AST if the lift and terrain support it. Keeps most pilots in sight of each other versus the TAT, yet allows differences in pilot skills and planes to fly slightly different task if needed. You can go home at any point after minimum distance or fly a few additional turn points if you are flying fast.

TT

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 2:04:59 PM UTC-5, wrote:
SNIP
This just in Clubbies- 2015 Club is at Hobbs with the 18's and at Wurtsboro in 2016 as a stand alone. mark your calendars.

UH/OH

What are the dates for Hoobs 2015? and Wurtsboro 2016?

EY