View Single Post
  #32  
Old May 16th 18, 11:19 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Chris Rowland[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 45
Default Reducing collision hazard at contests

At 21:14 16 May 2018, Sierra Whiskey wrote:
No more rules. Just race.

This is the gliding equivalent of drafting in cycling, NASCAR, Speed
Skating, Etc. All of which could cause serious or fatal injuries if done
wrong.

Penalizing pilots for flying in close proximity to each other serves no
purpose. Heads outside the cockpit, stop staring at the gadgets and

gizmos,
and go have a good old fashioned race!


As I see it the only practical way to prevent large groups of pilots
staying together is to do it in the same way as they do in cycling and
rallying - have a time trial where each pilot starts at a different time.
A sport where everyone starts at the same time, or at a time of the
participant's choosing, will lead to some sort of interaction between them.
Look at match racing in sailing, it's all about using the rules of sailing
to beat your opponent.

This means doing away with the pilot going through a start line at a time
of their choosing and goes to starting at the start of the flight. This is
how it used to be before the days of start lines and loggers.

Do competitors want to do this? Competition gliding has been trying to
move away from this towards pilots having the choice of exactly when to
start and this will inevitably led to grouping. It may not make you go
faster than your opponent but it can help you avoid doing worse.

Chris