Thanks very muchTo all of those who have sent, information, updates or corrections to this diary. Sorry about all the mistakes, of course there are bound to be many more!
Gordon Rigg, information about slow recording GPSs:
The error in GPS track log timings should effect very few GPSs. I had a 12 that had early hardware and couldn't be upgraded with new firmware to eliminate the problem of recording 13 seconds slow. However the vast majority of Garmin 12s and 12xls will accept the latest firmware and won't suffer from the time error (In fact I never came across another one with the obsolete hardware).
I do know that Craig Coomber had a 13 second slow Garmin 12 last time I was in Oz, and probably hasn't upgraded the firmware. But that shouldn't be his primary GPS by now. Look out for him using his backup if he had a problem "jumping" the start!!!
The worlds organisers certainly should use the GPS finish timings as a guide even if they insist on using manual scoring to get the finish order correct at the front end of the field. They are using GPS timings for the start which it can be argued is just as important! If there is any dispute about the finish order then they should at least look at the GPS finish timings. Most errors are caused by early changes in direction and speed after crossing the line so that the interpolated crossing time is slower than it actually was. There can be some surprisingly large instantaneous position errors between GPSs that are moving together. I've seen my Garmin and MLR track logs get 40m or more apart on the same glider!
If there is any possiblility of the goal marshalls failing to identify glider correctly at the finish then surely the can be no argument that every glider must carry a number before any more tasks are flown!!!! (Check if there isn't something in Section 7 about carrying numbers. I've never known a cat 1 where gliders didn't have numbers and have a vague recollection that there is a rule insisting on them - so in theory you might be able to get the first 2 tasks canned and start again from level, if you want to be the most unpopular team ever! If the gliders don't have numbers, why does Steve describe Oleg as having a number 2? (It is the same glider that he flew in the European Championships. Steve)
It looks like there are team scores being published that list the first 3 overall, rather than the first 3 each day. Unless, by remarkable coincidence every team had the same first three pilots on both days so far! This is a normal problem. Often the team scores are wrong like this at the beginning of the competition. Someone just has to make sure they are put right. Good Luck to everyone.
No doubt he will find my comments interesting. Hopefully John is having an easy time and not having too much hassle after all I'm not there! Make sure you protest about Straub helping the Yanks and make him fly with no radio. (He is a full US team member.) I'll look forward to his report of being left out all night!
Gordon
