Hi Tim - Tim McAllister here at the GP in Omarama:

This format of racing has real promise to revolutionize how our sport
is viewed in the wider media world.

PLUS, it is VERY fun to fly.

BTW - If anyone out there is interested in helping organize GP races
in the U.S., I would love to act as an advisor, consultant or even cd/
cm. Feel free to contact me through a reply to this email or through
my blog at www.echoyankee.com. I'll be back inthe states in about a
week and will get back to anyone after I am home.

However, back to your original point, many more than 15-20 gliders
using a single start line at one time would be way too dangerous.

Having flown three Gp events now (1st World Sailplane GP St. Auban,
Qualifier at Drakino Russia, 1st FAI GP World Championships here at
Omarama), I am probably the most experienced US Pilot in this format.
The "regatta" start line works as long as all pilots are very
professional and adhere to the rules. This was shown to spectacular
effect here at Omarama where I did not hear about or witness any
dangerous flying or discourteous conduct the entire week. Of course we
had some of the best pilots in the world here so the formation flying
was quite spectacular at times (think Blue Angels but 20 of them). But
the format is not to blame for Herbert's death in any way at all.

On to bringing this format to the U.S.. While a 50-60 ship "shotgun"
start would be a fools game, I could see a format where you break a
contest down into multiple heats of 10-20 gliders and run a sort of
ladder for the week's contest. By "ladder" I mean the top 5 in each
"heat" would then race against the top five from the other heats the
next day. Maybe add a "repechage" heat for the "losers" to advance
into a finals against he top pilots from the early heats. Then have a
B final for the rest at the end of the week.

Or maybe you use multiple start lines with multiple heats. Or anything
else that is safe and promotes good, close racing.
The GP Concept as written into the FAI GP Rules is jut a starting
point for some potentially very fun and exciting racing.

But for any of this to come to the USA, US glider pilots and the
contest community as a whole (organizers, SSA, etc.) needs to embrace
the concept and realize it is a new, dynamic form of glider race that
is growing by leaps and bounds in in Europe and around the world.
Unfortunately, the US is lagging behind in this new glider racing
format.

I hope to help change this state of affairs.

Tim McAllister EY

On Dec 24, 6:13 pm, Tim Taylor wrote:
On Dec 23, 10:00 pm, Dan G wrote:

I've just finished watching the final day's live coverage and I must
say it was terrific. ....

Dan

I would like to second Dan's comments. The coverage improved everyday
and the last two days have been fantastic. To be able to see the
tactics and choices during the flight and to have a true sense of time
is fantastic.

After watching the shotgun start I am wondering how that would work in
a 50 or 60 glider contest. It would be fun to try in a regional at
least.

Again, congratulation to the FAI World GP Gliding Championship team
for putting a fantastic viewer spectacle together.

Tim