On Friday, November 16, 2012 7:51:16 AM UTC-6, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:
In my small sailboat racing days (17' catamaran) we'd be checking our timings and heading for the start line in a big group. The goals was to cross the line at full speed just as the starting signal went. If we were early, we'd bear off a bit and reach along the start line, hopefully without running out of start gate, then close-haul and be away.



Of course, with all these boats going full tilt, we'd sometimes have "bumps". Anyone hitting another boat had to do a 360-turn as a penalty (very time consuming in a catamaran). Anyone over the line early had to go back and cross again.



I don't race my glider (yet), but I think I'd be a bit concerned about mid-airs at the start gate. I've been bumped too many times in my sailboat.

So after years (more decades) of trying to defray start gaggles, dives across the start line at vne+ and all the shenanigans that caused midairs we are reintroducing this dangerous practice? At the end of this noble Grand Prix race will of course have to be worm-burner finishes at 120 knots dumping water because the public and eventual present media is entitled to a good show. Then the mass-landing if all goes "well" and the finishers are close together - of course from a low-energy and low altitude position.
I'm not sure I want to rush to sign up.
Herb, J7