Some simple Guidelines for international F3F competition
Below, you find a small guide line, that was composed by St. Ferriol / Laurac organizers team. It is not a rigid rule neither prentends to be complete or perfect. It is just a summary of good practicies that has been oberserved during international contests like the VKR in Rügen in 2004 or in Barcelona and La Muela in this year 2008. It is further used during our own contest of St. Ferriol / Laurac and it is up to the pilots to decide whether we are able to follow our own guide lines ;-) And in the end, if good weather joins a good organization, good F3F sport will be the consequence and for sure a nice atmosphere on the slope.
Andreas and his team.
Download the guidelines under word format:
Foreword:
The below guidelines have the intention to help organizers in preparation and to give some ideas of good and simple practices that have been successfully used in past.
1. Spirit
For
an international contest, competitors might travel from all over the world
and will spend a lot of efforts and budget to participate. So in order to
respect all motivated pilots, as much as possible rounds should be flown in
a fair and sportive way, inline with FAI rules.
2. Organization and preparation:
The below listed ideas and comments will sound certainly obvious for many organizers but in the past, some contrary examples have lead to disappointed competitors.
2.1
2.2
2.3 Slopes should be suitable for
F3F and sharp edge contour is preferred, in order to fly fast times. The selected
slopes should offer space for safe landing (in a marked area) and allow competitors
to put their planes and material. Access to the slope should be reasonable
(not more than 30 minutes of walk) and permit as well the access for slightly
handicapped persons. Take into account that each competitor might carry 3
gliders with ballast, some tools, food and his radio!
2.4 In order to help competitors with inscription, accommodation
(hotels), starters list, criteria for participation, the proposed slopes (with
some kind of maps and pictures), contact addresses for the organization committee
of the competition, allowed frequencies, local rules, tourist information
for the family etc., it is advised to install a home page. Communication towards
competitors and to Contest-Eurotour committee is very important and must be
organized in advance.
3. Equipment:
3.1
3.2
A wind-vane should be visible for wind direction and as
well observed during each run. A manual observation of the wind parameters
has proven to be sufficient in the past.
4. Judges:
For
an international contest, independent base and timer judges and course director
should be prepared in order to guarantee a faire competition. It is proposed
to have a dedicated judge for the safety line and a loud horn for example
to inform all pilots that the safety has been crossed and that the responsible
pilot is exposed to the associated penalty. An independent jury must be available
in case of protest. A briefing on FAI rules should be held for these officials
and judges before the competition starts.
5. Organization on the slope:
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The starting order of
pilots must follow the start numbers for easy orientation of all pilots
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The starting list with
pilot name and frequency should be visible on the slope for all pilots. Double
frequencies should be announced during the briefing and marked and the starters
list.
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During launch and landing
phase a helper to the pilot is useful, in order to announce the remaining
preparation time for launch and the 30sec. climb phase in the appropriate
language and to assure safe landing.
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Group scoring rules
must be announced before the competition as well as start number shift after
each round (if planned) or after each day of competition.
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The landing field and
the safety line must be indicated to the pilots during the briefing and should
be visibly marked on the ground to avoid any discussions.
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Preparation time for
each pilot should be kept to minimum. 30 seconds has been successful in the
past.
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Preparation and starting
area should be marked on the ground.
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6. Local Rules:
Should
be announced in advance (for example through the home page of the competition)
and repeated on the slope during the briefing. These rules might be adapted
to the individual slope characteristics.
Summary:
This
small guide is for sure not complete but gives some essential ideas. If any
one has further ideas how to organize an efficient and friendly contest, he
is invited to send his comments!! This guide for sure cannot supersede FAI
rule that are the sportive code for all F3F competitions within Contest-Eurotour.