Mark,
The prestart gaggle is a dangerous place... especially at nationals.
You have three types of traffic in this gaggle. The guys waiting at
the top flying circles at 80 knots, the guys below who are climbing
for all they're worth afraid they might lose the guys at the top, and
the guys coming in from all points on the compass and altitudes to see
who is in the prestart gaggle. This rule may just may be useful in
reducing that density. On many occassions I have wished that I could
get credit for a start 45 or 90 degrees around the circle (where there
was better lift and a better cloud field on course), but have been
forced into the gaggle because I couldn't justify the 4 or 5 minutes
I'd be giving away.
The two start cylinders at Tonopah reduced the anxiety level. Giving
us the rest of the space, without penalizing our using it, would
improve things even more. This time, I think the committee is
addressing a real problem with an effective solution. Problem is,
we've has so much smoke blowing in the name of safety that it's wiser
to be suspecious of its motives.
Just like the 1m turnpoint, the 1m finish cylinder, and even the 10m
AAT cylinder, there is only one best place to be at a given time. And
if there are 50 gliders in the neighborhood, that's where they'll wind
up.
I was almost hit twice at Hobbs this year in the prestart gaggle. God
only knows who I scared as I slammed the controls full stop to avoid
the guys who didn't see me.
(Mark Navarre) wrote in message ...
16.0 “Start Anywhere” Cylinder
Present rules for start cylinders measure start time from your exit point, but
measure distance from the point on the cylinder’s perimeter closest to your
first turnpoint.
16.1 Would you prefer that both start time and distance be measured from
your cylinder exit point?
Consider the negative implications of starting out the top of the back of the
cylinder and then bumping the pre-start gaggles for more speed. This would mix
racing traffic with non racing traffic, and high speed straight line traffic
with thermalling traffic. Yes, I know this happens already while on course,
but it's not safe there either. Why propose a rule just because the scoring
program can score it? The same logic was partly behind the 1 mile turn
cylinder (read between the lines of the poll). Starting anywhere sure adds
some new variables to "start gate roulette". So you say we will all figure out
the new optimum place to start, go there, and the point is moot? NOT. There
has been an optimum place to start for years with the current rules, but I
observe 20% of pilots have not caught on. That won't change with a new rule.
Why so many rules proposals, anyway? The rules were not that broken until a
committee broke them, while squawking "safety" among other things, and now
there are increasing efforts to protect us from ourselves.
I propose a new rule: 3 year rules stability. Allow discussions, polls, and
regional testing, but National level changes only on a three year cycle.
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Mark Navarre
ASW-20 OD
California, USA
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