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A fair opportunity to compete?
(US) rule 11.1.1 states; A valid competition day is one in which every
regular entrant is given a fair opportunity to compete. What is the definition of fair? I can tell you what I have used as CD in 3 nationals and several regionals over the last 35 years. The launch should go without interuption. All contestants should be towed to 2000 feet in the designated release area. That's it, you are on your own after release! There is no guarantee that you will find lift. On day 3 at parowan this year, the launch went without delay and all were released in the designated area at 2000 feet. Several pilots didn't find lift and landed back. Some took re-lights and one landed on the dry lake in the release area. About half the class found that all important first thermal, the gate was opened 15 minutes after the last scheduled launch and most completed the assigned task. Data loggers were evaluated, scores computed and day 3 was a valid contest day, right? Not so fast! Two pilots protested that they hadn't been given a fair opportunity to compete. The competition committee met and threw out day 3. Their ruling may seem fair to the 2 protesters, but it was unfair to the remaining 25 pilots in the class. The CD even went so far as to state; If one of the protesters had found lift, he would have come in 3rd for the day! Unbelievable! Just how he determined that remains a mystery? There was one contestant who did place 3rd on that day, but his performance was ignored. I tried to talk to the CD with no response other than; You have the right to protest my ruling. If my 3rd place had counted, I would have been 5th overall and 19 points out of 4th. I withdrew from the contest in disgust! What has our competition come to? Are we all guaranteed lift? Who is to decide if the actions taken by the pilot after release were the correct ones? If you don't find lift, simply land back and file a protest! I will turn 75 next month and Pat and I have been asking ourselves just how much longer all this will be considered fun? In the words of an old country song; That just about does it, Don't it? Pat & JJ Sinclair |
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