2010 GOVERNOR’S CUP RULES

1 March 2010 - Ken Kochanski (KK)

No change to rules for the 2010 season.

1 March 2009 - Ken Kochanski (KK)

No change to rules for the 2009 season.

1 March 2008 - Ken Kochanski (KK)

SSA Regional Sport Class rules regarding flight evaluation and scoring will be in effect for the 2008 season with the following modifications:

1. The rule requiring pilots to remain under the start cylinder height/altitude boundary (5000' AGL for the GC) for two minutes prior to starting, will be suspended. i.e. Contestants can descend through the top of the cylinder and immediately exit the top or side to start.

Revised: 10 July 2007 - Erik Mann (P3)

OVERVIEW: The concept for the Governor’s Cup was put forth by Bobby Templin(1K) of Aero Club Albatross. Bob realized that it would be fun to compete against others from eastern Region II without the need to organize formal contests every weekend. He also realized that it can get dull racing against the same two or three people from the local club. Instead, he figured pilots should be able to launch from their regular homefield and compete on a level playing field with others from the area.

The Governor’s Cup South is a  closed-course race around the following six airports in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey:

The Governor's Cup North is a closed-course race around northern New Jersey and southern New York including:

Pilots may fly the course launching from any of the above sites, or any other airport in the area. They are scored on their three best flights of the Contest Season as described below. Flights may be flown any day within the Contest Season, in any glider. Speeds are determined using SeeYou flight evaluation software. Each course is a separate contest, with separate individual and team winners.

The Governor’s Cup will be scored using Herold Handicapping and is intended to encourage ALL types of sailplanes to compete. The sailplane need not be owned by the pilot, in fact flying club gliders is highly encouraged. For that matter, a pilot need not fly the same sailplane on each of the flights he submits.

The following rules are guidelines for the Governor’s Cup. The Competition Director reserves the right to modify or interpret the rules as necessary to account for unforseen circumstances.

1.  FORMAT:  The race is a Turn Area Task with turnpoints and radii as listed below.  The Minimum time is Two Hours and Forty Five Minutes (2:45).

2. CLOSED COURSE: The race is a closed course. Therefore, the flight must begin and end at the same turnpoint.

The flight begins when the pilot announces his start at one of the above airports.

The flight ends when the pilot has completed a closed loop and announces his finish at the same airport after rounding each airport in sequence.

A pilot may launch from another site; however, he must then tow or soar to one of the official turnpoints to take a start. The pilot may elect to land at his last turnpoint, or soar back to his launch site. He will not be penalized if he lands out after finishing (he may, however, be subject to ridicule).  Task Distances are approximately as follow:

A.  South Course:

1. Miniumum:  Approximately 120 - 125 miles depending on start point.

2. Nominal:   Approximately 145 miles.

3. Maximum:  Approximately 180-190 miles depending on start point. 

B.  North Course:

1. Miniumum:  Approximately 120 - 125 miles depending on start point.

2. Nominal:   Approximately 162 miles.

3. Maximum:  Approximately 190-210 miles depending on start point

3. DIRECTION OF FLIGHT: The pilot may complete the course in either direction (clockwise or counter clockwise).  For example, on the South Course, the turnpoints form a "ring" around the Allentown Class C Airspace; the turnpoints must be rounded in order to complete the closed ring. 

4. STARTING: A start will be recorded at the last valid GPS fix inside the start cylinder.  The pilot will announce his start over 123.30, broadcasting in the blind per the following example: "MARK - P3 starting Governor’s Cup VanSant."

A. Start radius.  The start cylinder is a one mile radius circle centered over the start point.

B.  Start height.  The maximum start height is 5,000 feet above the Start Point.

C.  Restart. After proceeding on course, a pilot may elect to restart, either at his initial turnpoint, or at another turnpoint. If he elects to start at another point, Rule 1 still applies,and he must then finish at that turnpoint.

5. FINISHING:  A finish will be recorded at the first valild GPS fix inside the finish cyclinder.  The pilot will announce his finish over 123.30, broadcasting in the blind per the following example: "MARK - P3 finishing Governor’s Cup VanSant."

A. Finish radius.  The finish cylinder is a one mile radius circle centered over the finish point.

B.  Finish height.  The minimum finish height is 700 feet above the Finish Point.  Failure to meet this minimum results in a mandatory 100 point penalty.

6. TURNPOINTS:  Official turnpoint coordinates and turpoint radii are listed below.  In addition to recording a valid GPS fix within the turnpoint cylinder, the pilot must broadcast his position on 123.30 upon exiting a turn cylinder  per the following example: "MARK - P3 departing Kutztown for Pottstown."

A.  Standard turnpoints for the South Course:

B.    Optional Turnpoints for South Course.  On exceptionally strong days, the Standard turnpoints for the South Course may not be long enough to fill the 2:45 time minimum.   A pilot may opt to replace the below listed Standard turnpoints with one of the official Optional turnpoints.      Remember that these Optional turnpoints replace the corresponding Standard turnpoint.  For example, if one opts to use Morgantown, the flight does not include Pottstown.   Also note that one must choose either Morgantown or New Garden to replace Pottstown; not both.

C.  Official turnpoints for North Course:

Turnpoint	GPS Turnpoint	Radius (mi)
Blairstown	40.58.269N 74.59.849W	5
Hackettstown	40.49.210N 74.51.310W	5
Middletown	41.25.890N 74.23.630W	5
Piolis	41:51.922N 74:19.976W	15
Wurtsboro	41.35.830N 74.27.500W	5

 

 

7. TURNPOINT EVIDENCE: GPS traces are required and may be submitted in either Cambridge (.CAI) or IGC (.IGC) format ONLY.  The task should be declared prior to the start (note:  an inflight declaration is acceptable).   Formats from other recorders MUST be converted into one of the above.

The Competition Director reserves the right to review traces assess penalties for a near miss of a Turnpoint.  The penalty is not to exceed 50 points or one six-pack of beer per miss.   This decision will be based on the experience level of the pilot  and the severity of the transgression.   Bribes of premium beer are gratefully considered.

8. SCORING: Scoring will be on a relative ranking, based on handicapped speed and distance. A pilot will be scored on his best three flights. Any number of flights may be submitted. Handicaps will be taken from the 2007 SSA listing HANDICAPS

A.  Speed Points: The fastest handicapped flight of the year among all competitors will be scored as a 1,000 point flight. Each flight thereafter will be scored as a percentage of this 1,000 point flight (e.g.if the fastest flight is 50 miles per hour handicapped, then a 40 mile per hour handicapped flight will be 800 points).

B.  Distance Points: The longest non-completion of the year among all competitors over 50 handicapped miles will be scored as 500 points or 80% of the lowest speed points.   All other non-completions will be scored as a percentage of that flight. If no distance flights exceed 50 miles, they will be scored as percentage of 50 miles x 500 points (e.g. if the longest non-completion is 25 miles, then the maximum distance points will be 250).

C. Team Points:   Pilots who are members in good standing of a local soaring club at the time of a flight will have their points added to a Team Total.   A Team Champion will be announced at the end of the season.  The Team Champion is that club which has the highest cumulative point total of all flights submitted by club members (subject to the three flight/pilot rule).   If a pilot belongs to multiple clubs, he must assign each flight to one club  at the time of submission.

D.  Team Ship Entry:  Each club may enter a two place ship which can be flown by multiple pilots over the course of a season.    The intent of this rule is to encourage a mentor to bring a cross-country student along to practice tactics, navigation, field selection, etc. The majority of the actual flying is to be done by the student.  

E.  Remote Finish Adjustment:  Any flight which ends at a remote finish point will receive a 2% speed bonus.  The pilot will NOT receive credit if he subsequently lands at the declared remote finish point.   [Interpretation:   Intent of this rule is to reduce the inherent "penalty" for someone who has to complete a final glide significantly above "normal" in order to give himself a chance to climb out and thermal home.]  

F.  Airspace Violation:  Violating Class B or Class C airspace will result in a flight receiving zero points.  Overflying Allentown Class C airspace is prohibited, regardless of whether the glider is equipped with a transponder.    Flying under the floor of Allentown Class C airspace is permitted, for example when flying the ridge between Beltzville and Blairstown.  

9. CONTEST SEASON: The Contest Season commences 1 March and ends 30 October.

10. ENTRY FEE: A $10 entry fee will be required with a pilot’s first submission to defray costs of mailings, administration, etc. Excess funds will be used to provide prizes for the winners at a season-ending party.

11. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS PROCESS: The competition director’s decisions are final, except when they aren’t. Phone calls or E-Mail messages are invited. The successful outcome of any appeal can be favorably influenced by beer or young nieces (age 26-30). And that goes for the scorer too (G8)