What are your thoughts about the Parallel Glider Race

Herb,

My understanding is the Roland Stuck developed the parallel glider race for the world air games. He's been described to me as the Father of the Sailplane Grand Prix. I met him at the 13.5m WGC. He's no idiot.

On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 11:20:02 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
"Since they had the same energy after the release..."



Only if they released at precisely the same
altitude and speed and had the same mass.



"Both gliders shall turn the same turn-points but at each turn-point
glider WHISKY shall turn to the west and glider ECHO shall turn to
the east..."



But each glider will be flying in different air after the turn.*
Whomever gets a rising bubble will win the race.* Why not just
flip a coin and leave the gliders in the trailers?* Oh yeah - this
is for the spectacle, not the competition.



And the above "rules" are only wishes to make the "competition"
look fair.* Or is this supposed to be more like flat track or
figure-eight racing where the audience is there for the crashes?



...And winter has not even begun.*
8-)




On 11/8/2015 2:58 AM,
wrote:



Le vendredi 6 novembre 2015 01:19:24 UTC+1, Sean Fidler a écrit*:


Rules just published he https://t.co/ftsqzaruG2

Sean
7T


Per the rules:

"6.2 Start
Both gliders shall cross the start line in the same right hand and left hand positions in which they released. Since they had the same energy after the release, there will be no start altitude limit and the start speed shall only be limited to the Vne (see para 6.5) After crossing the start line both gliders shall fly directly towards the first turn-point of the task.
6.3 Turn-points
Both gliders shall turn the same turn-points but at each turn-point glider WHISKY shall turn to the west and glider ECHO shall turn to the east. Non-compliance shall be penalized (disqualification for the race). Missing a turn-point shall also be penalized (disqualification for the race)."

If I understand the rules correctly, the gliders are not required to remain on their respective sides of the center line after the start. This means that rounding the turn points in opposite directions, as per the rules, could very well result in head-on collisions...





--

Dan, 5J

lets not forget that someone will have a headwind/tailwind component that the other will not....