On Sunday, August 10, 2014 8:07:45 PM UTC-4, Steve Koerner wrote:
On Sunday, August 10, 2014 4:40:38 PM UTC-7, John Cochrane wrote:

Was there the recommended consultation about a "fair and safe" start with the task advisers? Did anyone pipe up on the radio and say "it is impossible to stay up anywhere near the start cylider, I think starting the task right now would be very unfair?"







John Cochrane



I'm not sure whether advisors were consulted. I know that I was consulted twice I presume because I was the last designated launcher. On one occasion I reported to the CD that I was gliding with no lift found; and on the other occasion, if I remember correctly, I advised that I was in one knot at 1500 AGL. Immediately after that report, the CD confirmed that the task would open in 5 minutes. I was surprised at that. Before I launched there had already been numerous relights in the class.



And I'll say again: I'm not whining about any of this. Ron did a great job with lots of quick decisions to be made yesterday. The culprit was the damn thunderstorm outflow.

The use of the "fair and safe" criteria to help determine if a task should be open is well known and proven, though not universally applied for some reason.
It sounds like Ron happened to get this one wrong, as have a few CD's over the years. It occasionally happens.
There is a lot right about the current devaluation method, but it can't deal with a rare really bad call.
Also as BB noted there are remedies.
I am NOT throwing rocks at Ron and hope he realizes this.
We should not throw out proven rules because of a rare glitch.
Also remember that sometimes "stuff" happens.

UH