On Wednesday, August 14, 2013 8:05:10 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Sean, There is the nature of soaring, and then there is gross unfairness. To have someone starting 10,000' above you 15 minutes after the last launched rolled is absurd. On weak low days the CD has the potential to delay the task opening to allow the last launchers time to get to a reasonable altitude. Attempts at a fair start can and should be made. Open class has no gaggle to loose and some of us don't fly with gaggles in 18m and 15m, so the "unfairness" is simply an altitude issue. Richard Walters

I have been last off, and 6 or 7 of the 15 minutes were spent on tow because of a weak towplane and not finding any lift to get off in. Finally got off at 2K AGL in a measly weak thermal. I now have 8 or 9 minutes to climb 6000+ feet and fly to the front half of the start cylinder because the drop zone is not even in the start cylinder for the day. It is not so much the weak, low days that can make an unlimited height start unfair. It is the taller days. Where thermals are farther apart. And as others have pointed out, there may only be one good thermal in the front half of your cylinder..

I am with Rick. Limited start height is good. Option to climb out the top or run out the side is good. We need to educate pilots that it is much easier and more effieicent to stay 500 or even 1000 feet below the top until you are ready to climb out the top, if that is your choice. Why? Do you really think you can "feel" the thermal running around at 100 knots with your dive brakes out 100 feet below the top of the cylinder? If you are well below the top of the cylinder, you don't need to be watching the altimeter. Leave. Cruise around a bit. Get back into the thermal and give yourself time to get centered before going out the top. Your climb rate will be better from the time you actually do start until you leave that first climb.

As with so many other rules, pilot behavior can and will test the edges of any rule. You the pilot can choose to make the rule safe or dangerous.

Just my 2 cents.

Steve Leonard