Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Rules, &%$#!, Rules

In the interests of creating some clarity around what we may, or may not, do to that unlucky band of masochists who call themselves "Gauntleteers", here are the rules. We may make up some new ones as we go along, but this seems enough for now.

MISSION STATEMENT

This is not a rule. The objective of the Cape Gauntlet is to stretch and encourage growth of pilot's cross-country and competition skills. We hope to foster a culture of learning, sharing and a safe stretch.

This is achieved through bring pilots together who have a range of experience, setting a common challenge and encouraging communication, both on the ground and in the air. This means help should be at hand (albeit in a Gauntlet).

So, don’t be fooled by the name and image, the Cape Gauntlet will embody true Cape hospitality, and thus has a velvet lining.

Can you handle it?

RULES

1. Annex A to Section 3 of the Sporting Code shall apply subject to what is set out below.

2. Annex "A" is available via this website as well as the IGC website.

Note: The intention is not to be legalistic but to be fair. The rules are simple and most protests and unhappiness is the result of a failure to apply the rules. It is only fair to apply the rules to everyone.

HANDICAPS

3. The handicaps used by OLC (DAeC) are to be applied (the SSSA handicaps have not yet been finalised, nor do they have handicaps for all of the glider types flown from Worcester). We won’t be changing these handicaps as we go along either. It’s no good asking. Certainty is a rare luxury.

DOCUMENTATION

4. All pilots will be required to sign an indemnity and will have to be in possession of a valid GPL and letters of authority. (These, in any event, should be on board of all gliders.)

FLYING FAR AWAY

5. If there is any doubt as to whether you are cleared (or current) cross-country, you should confirm with the CFI this before participating.

6. If you are going to fly out of glide range of Worcester as part of this competition, you best ensure your trailer is ready, roadworthy, licensed and usable. Otherwise you may find nobody comes to get you . . . .

7. Make sure you have the club phone number (or better yet, the club telephone list) in your glider, together with a cell phone.

LOGGERS

8. All loggers will be accepted (IGC approved or not).

9. Loggers are to be handed in within 20 minutes of landing. It is expected that you will (within this time) provide either:
(a) A cable to download your logger to a laptop (along with the logger and a power cable or battery if required)
(b) An IGC file on a USB memory stick
(c) Notification that your IGC file is on the OLC website

FLARM

10. All gliders are to be equipped with functional FLARM units and the latest firmware version (this is v3.00 as of 24 February 2006) as published from time to time on the Cape Gauntlet website. You are expected to switch them on too.

BRIEFING

11. Briefing is at 09:00. At the briefing a draw for the launch sequence will take place. Briefing attendance is mandatory.

Note: Self-launchers may launch when there is a gap in aero-towing (aero-tows take precedence.

ENTRIES

12. To facilitate organisation, participants have to confirm their participation by latest Wednesday night preceding a competition day. Failure to register may result in your launch not being considered part of the grid (i.e., the contest may start before you launch or before you reach start altitude). After all, we have to arrange enough tugmeisters to hurl you into the air.

13. We will be asking a nominal entry fee of R100 to cover various expenses. You might actually get something for it, but don’t hold your breath. If you find this uncertainty frustrating, let us know by limerick. But make sure it rhymes.

TURN POINT DATA FILE

14. The turn point data file is available via the Cape Gauntlet website and the Worldwide Turn point Exchange.

TASKS

15. Tasks will either be:
(a) assigned speed task
(b) assigned area speed task
(c) OLC (and scored in accordance with OLC, save that a start time and start line will be set, and possibly a duration). We might also try OLC with some mandatory turn points. Don’t count on these turn points being anywhere near a mountain.
(d) Occasionally, we might try something different. Like a day where we declare a host of turn points with specific points values. These points will be scored like OLC kilometres (handicap applied and then the day adjusted to 1000 points).

16. The turn points used to define these tasks (and start and finish points) are all in the turn point data file.

START LINE

17. The start line will open 20 minutes after the launch of the last glider to which a launch has been allocated. (If you are late, or refuse a launch, the start line will open nonetheless).

18. The start line is 10 km long, perpendicular to the first turn-point or, if an OLC task, the start direction will either be perpendicular to a track line from the start point to Robertson airfield, Renosterhoek or Villiersdorp.

19. Start height is restricted to 1800m AMSL (6000ft AMSL).

FINISH LINE

20. The finish line is a circle 2km in diameter, around FAWC. The line must be crossed at least 600m AMSL (approximately 2000ft AMSL) (Note: crossing the finish line below 2000ft results in no speed points, and in the case of an OLC task with a 50km penalty.

AIRSPACE

21. The flight lands out at the first point of an airspace transgression (this is non-negotiable). Airspace not specifically briefed as ‘open’ for the purposes of a task will be considered transgressed if entered. Normal rules of entry for ‘open’ airspace will apply unless briefed otherwise.

RADIO PROCEDURE

22. It is compulsory to remain on the appropriate TIBA frequency.

23. It is expected that all participants will follow the guidelines outlined in Cloudbase for Radio. Stealth flying will attract stealth points.

PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

24. See rule 34. Still want to? Lodge it with the Director.

25. You are expected and required to report infringements of the rules and procedures (e.g., poor or no radio procedure).

SCORING

26. Score on each day will be a maximum of 1000 points (see Sporting code 3 for the calculations). For OLC days, the winners OLC points will be factored to 1000 and the rest of the field will have the same factor applied to their OLC points to determine their competition score.

27. Where mandatory turn points are set , the task setter / director will advise the penalty for not rounding the turn point as one of:
(a) Scored as a land out at closest point
(b) Scored as a penalty (e.g., x points per turn point missed)

28. Scores of all contest days count to an accumulated total. The accumulated total for all contest days will be used to determine the winner. (Feb – Dec).

29. Mr Farrell will be the winner (we will award penalties to other pilots).

30. The Rule relating specifically to Mr Farrell is invalid (just checking you are awake). But it might actually happen like that occasionally.

COMPETITION DAYS

31. The competition runs from February to December.

32. Days where no task is possible will be dropped and not replaced.

JURISDICTION

33. All Cape Gauntlet competition activities are subject to normal rules of the Cape Gliding Club, and flying activity is subject to the jurisdiction of the flying panel of that august body. So if you beat up, you might be beat up.

OBJECTIVE

34. Isn’t it funny how the most important rules are left hiding at the end? This is supposed to be fun, make sure you FUN the GAUNTLET.

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