WCSA Bulletin Board

[pinf]

As you may have heard: at its annual Plenary meeting in March, IGC voted to establish a 13.5m Class to allow ALL gliders and motorgliders with a wingspan of 13.5m or less to participate in FAI and IGC competitions. This change will take effect in 2014. In the mean time, we will likely see establishment of a US 13.5m National Championship, maybe in 2011 or 2012, to correspond to the new 13.5m FAI class.

As you may also know, the PW5 Nationals and 1-26 championships have been held jointly for several years. This year, the event will be held at Bermuda High Soaring (BHSS), near Jefferson, SC. The dates are:
PW5 National Championship: June 1-10, practice days: May 30-31
1-26 Championship: June 2-9, practice days: May 31, June 1

HERE IS ANOTHER BIG NEWS: Jayne and Frank from BHSS have accepted to hold a *non-official trial* of the 13.5m contest at the same time than the joint PW5 and 1-26 championship. SO, IF YOU HAVE A SILENT, A RUSSIA, A SPARROWHAWK, AN APIS, OR ANY OTHER GLIDER OR MOTORGLIDER WITH A SPAN OF LESS THAN 13.5M, THEN COME AND JOIN US..!!!

There is no change whatsoever to the PW5 or 1-26 contests. Both will be scored using their appropriate scoring and rules, as always.

All the other 13.5m gliders on the field will be part of a *non-official* 13.5m *trial* event.
An additional scoring, using handicaps to "level the field" will be calculated (using neither the PW5 nor the 1-26 scoring equations) for ALL the 13.5m gliders, including the PW5, the 1-26, and all other ships participating in the non-official trial event. Details of the tasking, scoring equations, etc. for the "umbrella scoring" are still being refined, and several task options may be tried. A major aspect will also be discussions on how to "uniformalize" entry requirements, paperwork, etc.. for future events that could become the "annual get-together of all small wings."

How will it work?
If you were planning to fly in the PW5 contest, then there is no change: Register for the contest on the SSA website, get ready, and come to have the same fun that we have had for many years... and more.
If you have a 13.5m glider and want to join this historic trial event, then contact Jayne or Frank Reid at: soaring4fun@mindspring.com. There will be an "attendance contribution" TBD, and of course you'll pay your tows, etc. Again, the details of the tasking, scoring, etc. are still being worked out, and this trial 13.5m event is NOT an official or SSA-sanctioned event (one purpose will actually be to test various tasks, scores, etc. toward refining future rules), but I believe it will be the beginning of the greatest annual fun that the "light end" of Soaring will experience from here on.

I hope you will join us during these 2 weeks in early June. There are camping and RV-hookup sites on the field, and many reasonable hotels nearby. For more info, see http://tinyurl.com/bhss10
or contact: soaring4fun@mindspring.com
And if you know of someone who may be interested, please pass the news along...

Happy flights to all.
Francois
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Francois Pin - FP