Task was an AAT with distances ranging from 210 to 606 km (WOW).

The shortest distance flown was 496 km.

Terry Cubley used some mysterious wrinkle in time/space fabric to fly 608 km on a task where 606 is the max.

At least 9 pilots out of 12 exceeded 90% of the maximum distance.

The 14 minute early pilot, Norm Bloch, flew 587 km, 97% of max distance.

So yes to my eye this would be an undercalled task.

Now, in 2017 the US removed the following rule in the name of simplification:

11.6.5 Undertime factor:
11.6.5.1 For a Modified Assigned Task: UTF = 0.1
11.6.5.2 For a Turn-area task:
MAXTATDIST = maximum possible distance, computed from the center of the start cylinder, less the start radius
UTF = 0.1 + 6 * ((DIST / MAXTATDIST) - 0.85) (but not less than 0.1, nor greater than 1.0)
11.6.6 Scored Time on Course:
For finishers whose TOC is not less than MINTIME: STOC = TOC
For finishers whose TOC is less than MINTIME: STOC = MINTIME - (MINTIME - TOC) * UTF

This was done based on the poll of course. I'm not really sure rule changes like this based on the polling info is really a good idea, for the following reason: A small subset of pilots at SSA contests have actually read the current years rules. An even smaller subset of that group has actually looked at the scoring formulas.

The effect of this undertime factor rule was to minimize the penalty a pilot would get from flying so fast on an undercalled day that they maxed out the areas and came back early.

The notes in the rule change summary document provide the following explanation for this rules removal:

This change removes the provision that a pilot who achieves more than 85% of the maximum possible distance on a Turn-Area Task in less than the assigned minimum time receives more credit for his actual speed. This is regarded as an unnecessary complication principally aimed at compensating for a questionable task call – so the issue is better dealt with by better task-setting advice and guidelines.

Yes I know that in a dream world there would not be poorly set tasks. However we fly in the real world. I have CD'd a couple contests and been the weatherman at a couple others. Sometimes conditions are better than forecast. Sometimes much better.

So anyway, if the Australians had this handy little rule in their rules, by my calculations, Norm would've been scored at 177.4 km/hr instead of 167 km/hr. He would've won the day instead of placing 4th, and instead of losing 29 points to Peter Temple, he wouldve gained 41 on Peter. Peter still would be champion but by 30 points instead of 100.