Grand Prix format: thumbs up!

This weekend the Arizona Sailplaneracers Asociation (ASA) is
conducting its first ever Grand Prix format racing event, and despite
challenging weather for the first day, most participants gave it
enthusiatic approval after the first day.

With sailplanes of various performance levels participating, the rules
committee implemented a simple handicap system: the turnpoint radii
were scaled to glider performance. No distance points; but faster
glass had to fly farther to finish.

Not clear is whether the international version uses a maximum start
height. The ASA, today, did not, which left the last one or two pilots
in the grid a bit worried with the gate opening 20 minutes after last
launch. Tomorrow we will leave the unlimited start height in place,
but allow the last two launchees the option of taking 3000 foot tows.

(For the record -- the last to launch today was the highest at start
time. But he was still nervous!)

I hope the contest organizer, Steve Koerner (GW), will also post a
report here.

~ted/2NO