Graduated Penalties

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message ...
I got tagged twice this year and so, consider myself something of an expert on
penalties. At Minden, I was heading for the edge of the 10,000 MSL start gate
at 9,900. I knew I was too close, but a thermal shoved me up from my normal
9,700 feet. Just at the edge of the 5 mile gate (you guessed it) I hit another
thermal. I shoved it over hard and the GPS said I made the edge just before the
altimeter said I was too high. Was I right? NO, the GPS logger said I hit
10,010. That cost me 25 points, actually it was 23, or so, because it wasn't a
1000 point day.


You should have been started at the point you exited the TOP of the
cylinder and received no penalty points!


Andy (GY)

Good point, Andy.
What I forgot to mention was I had been above the gate, descended back down
into the cylinder, then hit the thermal that took me out the top (10.010),
before I had logged my 2 minutes in the gate. I thought I might have nicked it,
so as I approached the edge of the gate, I was trying to;
1. Stay inside the 5 miles
2. Stay below 10,000 MSL
3. Let 2 minutes go by before I hit the top or side.
I made 10K and 5 miles at about the same time, but my 2 minute rule, was
something like 1 minute 58 seconds.

Who says these rules are TOO complicated? Actually I like this start gate and
the 1 mile 500 foot finish gate, apply the graduated penalty to it, and I'm
happy.
JJ Sinclair