On Jan 6, 10:38Â*am, mattm wrote:


Beware that these are not "limits" but the baseline weight for the
published handicap. Â*

While that is true for sports class is is most certainly not true for
FAI classes flying under no ballast rules. No handicap is used in FAI
classes but the handicap weight is applied under the following rule:

6.8.3 ‡ â€* No-ballast rules No-ballast rules shall apply on a day when
the CD has announced this prior to the first launch.
6.8.3.1 Disposable ballast is prohibited with the exception of
disposable tail ballast.
6.8.3.2 Fixed ballast is permitted, but not more than an amount that
brings the sailplane to its maximum handicap weight, as defined in the
SSA Sailplane Handicap List.

Bottom line - if you are well over handicap weight then you fly with
no penalty. If you are under handicap weight you can add fixed
ballast but only increase weight to the handicap weight. The handicap
weight is therefore a wing loading limitation that is applied to some
pilots but not to others in the same contest class.

Andy