Potential Club Class (US Sports Class) World Team Selection Policy Changes

Any pilot flying a non-conforming Club Class glider in the Sports
Class should be assumed as not wanting to fly the WGC in the
Club Class. After all, as the rules stand today if you really want
to fly the WGC then buy or borrow a Club Class glider. I sold my
Ventus 2c and bought a Club Class glider.

YOU SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE CLASS YOU WANT TO FLY.

Allowing higher performing sailplanes to be Club Class eligible will
put US pilots at a greater disadvantage. Hindsight is 20/20. Had I
been allowed to qualify for the US Team in a Ventus 2c I would have
been unprepared flying the WGC. I would not have placed as well.

If the proposed rules are adopted then strategy will change for those
who want to be on the US Team. Flying a true Club Class glider
in the Sports Class will be too risky. Yes, there are conditions
where
Club Class handicaps are impossible to beat. However, most contests
have days which favor handicaps from better performing gliders. The
best bet will be bringing a modern Standard Class glider. The
handicap isn't horrible but they stand a better chance in conditions
Club Class gliders would end up in a field.

We have enough pilots flying Club Class gliders in the Sports Class.
We NEED a US Club Class Nationals. There is no reason to select
a separate Club Class venue. The best solution is to score the Club
Class within the Sports Class. Have a separate Club Class score
sheet.
Declare a Club Class National Champion. We have enough pilots to
do this now.

I sincerely hope the US Team Committee and Rules Committee will
preserve and leave the Club Class intact.

Sean Franke
2010 US Team - Club Class