Sports class tasking

The competition director has his hands full when tasking sports class
because of the vast differences in sailplane types in the class. If he
gives the Nimbus driver a challenging task, the 1-26 driver will have
no chance of completing the task. For this reason Assigned Task is not
allowed. At first glance the turn Area Task appears to solve the
problem, call a couple of 25 mile circles and let the pilots fly the
distance that their ships performance dictates. Problem is; its too
easy. Day after day we drive into the first turn area while keeping an
eye on the second turn area. Go as deep as good conditions allow and
then head for the second turn area as we follow the clouds and/or other
sailplanes. The only real challenge is deciding when to quit and head
for home. Our computers do a real good job of making this decision for
us. I feel the TAT should only be called on days that the weather is
predicted to blow-up, but we just don't know exactly where or when.

That leaves us with the Modified assigned task. This is the best task
to call when weather conditions are fairly predictable. Assign several
turn points and the higher performance ships can continue on to several
other turn points. The low performance ship can quit any time after the
first turn and head for home. Sounds good, but is it challenging and is
it always fair? I have seen the first called turn, 60 miles down-wind
(20 knots), the K-6 didn't make it home that day. Another problem with
11 turn points available, is the desirability of running close-in
triangles, maybe several times, no real challenge there. I suppose a
clever CD could call a MAT with NO turn points specified and a MAXIMUM
of 2 turn points allowed and say, 3 hour minimum time. Each contestant
would be forced to fly an out-&-return or triangle that used up the
alloted 3 hours. It would bring back the Non-WUSS tasking of
yesteryear. One would be forced to choose the best direction and a turn
point or two that was far enough to use up the allotted time (3 hrs).
We would be forced to actually go all the way to our chosen turn point
and not be allowad to turn short when conditions didn't look ideal
ahead.

Thirty years ago sports class started with a book of selected triangles
and each contestant was required to fly one of them (at least as far as
his minimum distance). The CD would announce the scratch distance (the
distance he thought the Standard Cirrus should be able to fly that
day). Each contestant would divide his handicap factor into the scratch
distance and come up with his minimum distance. It was a real
challenge, first off, what direction to go? Then choose a triangle that
looked good to you. One could keep ones options open with several
triangles that could be used in the chosen direction. The minimum
distance has been replaced with a minimum time, but the concept can be
used again. I think challenging tasks are still available. We could
call it the Non-WUSS-MAT.

Whe wants to give it a try?
JJ