6.3 Explanations of Tasks

6.3.1 Racing Task

a. The Organisers shall set a number of Turn Points in a sequence.

b. The competitor shall complete the task by passing through these Turn Points, in the sequence designated by the Organisers, and returning to the contest site in the shortest time.

c. The Task Distance is the distance from the Start Point to the Goal via all assigned Turn Points. If start option (c) or (d) are used the start point which yields the greatest distance shall be used to assess the Task Distance.

d. The score given to each competitor (in accordance with Part 8) shall take into account the Marking Distance and the Marking Speed defined as follows:

(i) The Marking Distance is the sum of the legs correctly completed by the competitor, commencing from the Start Point, in the proper order and the distance achieved on the next leg attempted but not completed, if any.

(ii) The achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is the length of that leg less the distance between the Outlanding Position and the next Turn Point, or Goal in the case of the last leg, with the provision that if the achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is less than zero, it shall be taken as zero.

(iii) The Marking Speed is the Marking Distance divided by the Time elapsed between the finisher's recorded Start Time and his Finish Time.

6.3.2 Speed Task - Assigned Areas

a. The Organisers shall nominate a number of Assigned Areas
(7.5.2) in a sequence, and set a designated task duration (Designated Time).

The following distances should be included in the task information for pilots:

The Assigned Areas should be large enough to allow the pilot the opportunity to adjust the length of their flight in order to avoid finishing before the Designated Time if their speed is higher than expected.

b. The competitor shall complete the task by passing through these Assigned Areas, in the sequence designated by the Organisers, and returning to the contest site and achieve the highest speed in the Designated Time.

c. The score given to each competitor (in accordance with Part 8) shall take into account the Marking Distance and the Marking Speed defined as follows:

(i) If the competitor returns to the Goal after having visited all the Assigned Areas in the correct order, the Marking Distance is the distance from his actual Start Point, round all Assigned Areas, to the Goal.

(ii) If the competitor has outlanded on the last leg, the Marking Distance is the distance from the Start Point, round all Assigned Areas in the correct order, minus the distance from the Outlanding Position to the Goal, with the provision that if the achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is less than zero, it shall be taken as zero.

(iii) If the competitor has outlanded on any other leg, the Marking Distance is the distance from the Start Point, round all Assigned Areas in the correct order, to the point of the next Assigned Area which is nearest to the Outlanding Position, minus the distance from the Outlanding Position to this nearest point, with the provision that if the achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is less than zero, it shall be taken as zero.

(iv) In all cases, the Marking Distance is assessed by taking into account, for each Assigned Area, the valid fix recorded in the GNSS FR that yields the best overall Marking Distance.

(v) The Organisers may give a "penalty" to non-finishers by subtracting from the Marking Distance half the distance between the competitor’s Outlanding Position and the Goal.

(vi) The Marking Speed is equal to the Marking Distance, divided by the Time elapsed between the finisher's recorded Start Time and his Finish Time, or the task Designated Time, whatever is longer.

6.3.3 Speed Task - Pilot Selected

a. The Organisers shall nominate several Turn Points, and set a designated task duration (Designated Time).

A Task Distance is not defined since any course may be selected via the allowed Turn Points. Organisers should allocate sufficient Turn Points to allow a pilot a make fine adjustments of the Distance flown according to their actual speed, especially at the end of the flight (near the Goal).

b. The competitor shall complete the task by flying from the Start Point to the Goal, via Turn Points selected among those designated by the Organisers, and achieve the highest speed in the Designated Time.

c. A maximum of 10 Turn Points, from the assigned list, may be utilised in any order. However the pilot may not return to a Turn Point before having rounded two other Turn Points, except when finishing at the Goal.

d. Additionally the Organisers may:

(i) Impose the same mandatory first and/ or last Turn Point for all competitor’s, and/ or

(ii) Declare certain Turn Points ineligible as first and/ or last Turn Points, and/ or

(iii) Require the competitors to declare their first Turn Point prior to take-off.

e. The score given to each competitor (in accordance with Part 8) shall take into account the Marking Distance and the Marking Speed defined as follows:

(i) The Marking Distance is the distance from the competitor’s actual Start Point via all achieved Turn Points to the Goal, or to his Outlanding Position.

(ii) The Organisers may give a "penalty" to non-finishers by subtracting from the Marking Distance half the distance between the competitor’s Outlanding Position and the Goal.

(iii) The Marking Speed is equal to the Marking Distance, divided by the Time elapsed between the finisher's recorded Start Time and his Finish Time, or the task Designated Time, whatever is longer.

6.3.4 Distance Task - Assigned Areas

a. The Organisers shall nominate a number of Assigned Areas (7.5.2) in a sequence, and set a designated task duration (Designated Time) as well as a minimum finish altitude, expressed in QNH.

The Assigned Areas should be large enough to allow the pilot the opportunity to adjust the length of their flight in order to avoid finishing before the Designated Time if their speed is higher than expected.

b. The competitor shall complete the task by passing through these Assigned Areas, in the sequence designated by the Organisers, and returning to the contest site and achieve the greatest distance before the expiry of the Designated Time.

c. The Time-out Position is the last GNSS position before the expiry of the Designated Time where the glider was above the minimum finish altitude (see 7.6.3 for virtual outlandings).

d. The score given to each competitor (in accordance with Part 8) shall take into account the Marking Distance defined as follows:

(i) If the competitor correctly crosses the finish line or finish ring before the expiry of the Designated Time, after having visited all the Assigned Areas in the correct order, the Marking Distance is the distance from his actual Start Point, round all Assigned Areas, to the Goal.

(ii) If the Time-out Position is on the last leg, the Marking Distance is the distance from the Start Point, round all Assigned Areas, to the Goal minus the distance from the Time-out Position to the Goal, with the provision that if the achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is less than zero, it shall be taken as zero.

(iii) If the Time-out Position is on any other leg, the Marking Distance is the distance from the Start Point, round all Assigned Areas, to the point of the next Assigned Area which is nearest to the Time-out Position, minus the distance from the Time-out Position to this nearest point, with the provision that if the achieved distance of the uncompleted leg is less than zero, it shall be taken as zero.

(iv) In all cases, the Marking Distance is assessed by taking into account for each Assigned Area the valid fix recorded in the GNSS FR that yields the best overall Marking Distance.

(v) The Organisers may give a “penalty” to non-finishers by subtracting from the Marking Distance a fixed value of 20% of this distance plus half the distance between the competitor’s Outlanding Position and the Goal. This "penalty" shall not be applied if the pilot flies home after the time-out.

6.3.5 Distance Task - Pilot Selected

a. The Organisers shall nominate several Turn Points, and set a designated task duration (Designated Time) as well as a minimum finish altitude (expressed in QNH).

A Task Distance is not defined since any course may be selected via the allowed Turn Points. Organisers should allocate sufficient Turn Points to allow a pilot a make fine adjustments of the Distance flown according to their actual speed, especially at the end of the flight (near the Goal).

b. The competitor shall complete the task by flying from the Start Point to the Goal, via Turn Points selected among those designated by the Organisers, and achieving the greatest distance before the expiry of the Designated Time.

c. A maximum of 10 Turn Points, from the assigned list, may be utilised in any order. However the pilot may not return to a Turn Point before having rounded two other Turn Points, except when finishing at the Goal.

d. Additionally the Organisers may:

(i) Impose the same mandatory first and/ or last Turn Point, for all competitor’s, and/ or

(ii) Declare certain Turn Points ineligible as first and/ or last Turn Points, and/ or

(iii) Require the competitors to declare their first Turn Point prior to take-off.

e. The Time-out Position is the last GNSS position before the expiry of the Designated Time where the glider was above the minimum finish altitude and inside the contest area (see 7.6.3 for virtual outlandings).

f. The score given to each competitor shall take into account the Marking Distance, which is defined as follows:

(i) The distance from his actual Start Point via all achieved Turn Points to his Time-out Position,

(ii) The Organisers may give a "penalty" to non-finishers by subtracting from the Marking Distance a fixed value of 20% of this distance plus half the distance between the competitor’s Outlanding Position and the Goal. This "penalty" shall not be applied if the pilot flies home after the time-out.