On Monday, January 7, 2013 2:14:51 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Monday, January 7, 2013 10:05:47 AM UTC-5, wrote:

On Sunday, January 6, 2013 3:02:08 PM UTC-5, John Godfrey (QT) wrote: The proposed changes to the 2013 competition rules are posted on the SSA website. http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2013...%20Summary.pdf The deadline for comments to the Rules Committee is January 18, 2013. For the committee, John Godfrey (QT) John, The proposed rules state that the race ends at the edge of the finish cylinder. I know there has been some interest in eliminating the requirement for a landing back at the launch airport. Will this change eliminate that requirement as per 11.2.2.4? Lane XF



With the expectation that you will be finishing at 700 ft, there should be no issues with landing safely on the airport.

Finish height is raised, in part, based upon pilot feedback at Perry that 500 ft is marginal in some situations.

UH

Here we go: Another danged patch job.

Pilots are complaining that 500 / 1 mile is too low? Excuse me? Any *pilot* can finish as high as he damned well pleases. Airmanship, anyone? Helllllooooooooooooo!

A digression: Personally, I liked the old zero height finish line... a LOT. You had a lot of skin in that game (all of it, to be exact). And we took it pretty seriously. A lot of factors to think about and a lot of judgement to exercise. And man was it ever a blast. And there were plenty of times I elected to finish at 300' or even higher because it was just the smart thing to do that particular moment in time. Oddly enough, contest soaring was a lot more popular then. Ever since, we've been making it easier and participation falls and falls.

Back on subject: Now, evidently, we've got dumb asses flying who think if they fly right to the minimum that they are guaranteed safety, or at least safe energy for the pattern, and a rules committee that seeks to oblige. I disagree with this approach. It's possible we need to smarten up some pilots: let's do that rather than continuing to dumb down the rules!

If the CD thinks he needs a special finish gate, he or in the case I am about to relate "she" can do this already (Hi Jacquie). We did it at Wurtsboro due to extreme local terrain and a lot of first time contestants (IIRC it was a 1000 over the airport). I believe I set the US record for a finish height penalty there when thermals died and I crawled home on the ridge and then the ridge died and so I was about 700' low (but still safe). Aggravating, but amusing. And thankfully back before this nasty -200' / no speed points rule.

Quit taking the power of superior judgement away from those that display it in the utterly futile attempt to cover for those that don't!

T8