Benalla

On Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 7:14:17 PM UTC-8, Dan Daly wrote:
They just cancelled on just into the launch. Watching on spot the gliders.

They cancelled due to excessive crosswind...

Did anyone else notice that most of the wing runners did a poor job in the wind? Nearly all were held level instead of upwind wing low.

Also a bit sporty with a couple tow planes drifting into the grass at liftoff. Whee!!

-Tom

A general comment not confined to us contests - I don't think racing scoring rules should be manipulated to change pilot behaviour to indirectly enhance safety. There will always be unintended consequences. That is not to say that a rule that clearly encourages unsafe flying should not be removed.

Unsafe flying practices such as during gaggling or other poor airmanship issues should be punished directly by significant point losses - that is different from using scoring to alter the nature of the contest flying with the secondary aim of improving safety.

As for racing scoring: zero points for land out. Devalue the day in direct proportion to the percentage of land outs. Finishers get points related to speed either in direct proportion (too lenient) or related to square of speed ( too harsh IMHO except at the very top levels). Yes - a day with no finishers would be a no contest day. In other sports a competitor who can't finish is deemed to have withdrawn from the race and I don't see why gliding is different.

The other side of the coin should be a shift to setting tasks that should be achievable for all fit and competent competitors.

Make glider races races - you dont have to attempt to use the whole day - other sports don't with the exception of endurance events like the Le Mans 25 hour.

John Galloway

Kawa seems unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lh...ature=youtu.be

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:26:54 AM UTC-5, krasw wrote:
Kawa seems unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lh...ature=youtu.be

I suggest you watch the video again. I did not hear him saying he was unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics but rather he was unhappy with blue days that kill individual flying.

Maybe the FAI should start requiring tricycle landing gear towplanes...

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:26:54 AM UTC-5, krasw wrote:
Kawa seems unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lh...ature=youtu.be

No, he's unhappy that he's getting beaten.

Sebastian's comments regarding his frustration with leeching are spot on. Unfortunately, in the real world of blue skies and WGC scoring you can be a winner on welfare.

Someone with more IT acumen than I would know if the present state of tracking would lend itself to a scoring adjustment based on whether a pilot was doing his "share" of the leading.

KS

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 9:05:59 AM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:26:54 AM UTC-5, krasw wrote:
Kawa seems unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lh...ature=youtu.be

No, he's unhappy that he's getting beaten.

Kawa's earlier WGC video shows that he's being consistent in expressing his dislike for the blue days since it doesn't put the emphasis on individual pilot performance. Just 33 pts off 1st place. (his teammate is in 3rd)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0r1lFIIrUs

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 1:07:59 PM UTC-5, Duster wrote:
On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 9:05:59 AM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:26:54 AM UTC-5, krasw wrote:
Kawa seems unhappy with fellow pilots' tactics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lh...ature=youtu.be

No, he's unhappy that he's getting beaten.

Kawa's earlier WGC video shows that he's being consistent in expressing his dislike for the blue days since it doesn't put the emphasis on individual pilot performance. Just 33 pts off 1st place. (his teammate is in 3rd)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0r1lFIIrUs

Kawa has done plenty of the cat and mouse flying he's complaining about! It's just that he's usually winning. No one complains when they are winning.

best,
Evan

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 12:31:52 PM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
Kawa has done plenty of the cat and mouse flying he's complaining about! It's just that he's usually winning. No one complains when they are winning.

best,
Evan

That may be true, Evan. But he also said that he would be willing to sit at the start line all day and throw away a potential world championship victory for himself to keep the other person from winning (by following). That is a pretty powerful statement, and to me seems more than just complaining because he is not winning. Hopefully, the weather will let us all see how it plays out.

Just my two cents,
Steve Leonard