Task to Uttoxeter called.
Gary was the only one to make it. Grant fell short by 200 mtrs.

Task Results are here
http://bhgc.wikidot.com/bos2009:r3d2

Jamie's Tweets I found rather good as well. It least it shows that a blonde knows how to use a phone!.

By far the most "fun" was the Irish blogg. Its good to know that there are still some out there that are still adept at taking the piss.

The Ager open, fortunately has Jonny and Jamie reporting. Without them we wouldn't have much of a clue that 24/7 Carl is doing rather well.

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

How does he do it? Come second in the worlds and provide the best coverage on the net!

Not quiet as exciting as Jonny's movies, but my BOS 08 and 09 efforts (as mentioned in Skywings! ) can be seen here:-

http://www.film41.co.uk/F41/00-BOS_Videos.html

For safety reasons the take off at Laragne-Chabre will be closed for the period of the Hang Gliding Worlds - 20th June to 4th July 2009, to non authorised pilots between midday and the opening of the start gate. There are several other sites in the region where pilots can fly including those at Aspres, Sederon, Colombis and St Vincent, St Genis etc. Worlds HQ staff will be happy to give details of other available sites and how to get to them.

The website for the Worlds is HERE

Cheers,
Nicky

miles.hockliffe(AT)edwardsvacuum.com
or
miles.hockliffe(AT)gmail.com

call or txt
07500833340

I know that there is big HG comps here this year and I just wanted to make sure that people knew there was a local contact with accommodation and transport for the comp weeks.

I hope that I am not being too forward but just did not know who to contact to get the news out.

If you would like me to prepare a snippet about us and our services please let me know.

I had my first group of hang glider pilots here last year with Gordon Harris and they are coming back this year so we must have done something good :)

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Winston and Amanda
moc.liamelgoog|ofniylfogew#liamE
http://www.wegofly.co.uk

* John Aldridge
* Kathleen Rigg
* Mike Armstrong
* Nigel Bray

I shall redesign the way this works. So they are not linked that way anymore.

BUT

I think the front page should not keep on changing and should be as simple as possible while still making it obvious how to get to the most used parts of the site.

Editing rights to the front page should be restricted to one or two people

We should achieve a consensus before changing it i.e. maybe we could have some hidden prototype front pages developed and tweeked and when were happy with it then freeze it at least for 1 season.

craig

2 great XC's in 5 days, both my longest in the UK and the only ones I've managed since 2005, when I was flying my Rio. Looking forward to more, new sites, great scenery and 'craic'. Cheers, Craig. PS hopefully you'll see my website contact here too!

The front page needs to be very much simpler with routes to the important stuff very much more obvious.

Please can you give me a list of what you consider important.

At the moment, at least on my screen with at least
two different browsers there are overlapping pictures covering up text

where please? and what browsers

We have a real problem with multiple places for information being published.

with new techs available we try different things to see what sort of response we get.
the collective site is an attempt to get to more non comp pilots. yes a lot of stuff is duplicated to see if there are advantages/disadvantages. If we don't try we don't know.

Most pilots are completely not interestefd in getting involved with how to puit stuff on a website themselves

So we are discovering

I just don't think it can ever work as a wiki that everyone is supposed to edit!

Again, if we dont try, we don't know. But, that certainly seems to be the case.

I have two big problems.

1. a lack of constructive criticism (so i thank you for you comments)
2. Content. (i dont care how i get it. but without its pretty pointless.)

Hows was the comp in italy. wanna tell us about it (not just the guys on the mail list)?

At the moment, at least on my screen with at least
two different browsers there are overlapping pictures covering up text.

We have a real problem with multiple places for information being published. Cross over between different websites. Such things as entry forms need to be in one place and one place only. One reason is the difficulty of navigating here means people are going elsewhere.

Most pilots are completely not interestefd in getting involved with how to puit stuff on a website themselves. They might send stuff to someone who's job it is to manage the website though. I just don't think it can ever work as a wiki that everyone is supposed to edit!

There have been one or two that have experienced difficulty. some from behind firewalls at there office of work, and some macs and weird stuff :-)

BUT…

I dont know what is good and what is wrong… so PLEASE, AS HAVE I REQUESTED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION…

All you guys that have an opinion on this…

Please advise.

The previous website was superior. All that is needed is someone who can update a conventional site and that should be a job for a specific competitons panel post.

Everyone is saying this off the record so its about time the truth was stated.

They have nearly the capacity of a full-blown NiHM, but whereas they self discharge at about 30% per month, the hybrids do the same 30% in a year.

If you actually want to look at the maps before you send them to your gps, I second the recommendation of GPSMapEdit which is shareware.

Another note: the transparent maps work really well :)

<trkpt lat="53.320394084" lon="-1.729641510">
<ele>387.548584</ele>
<time>2009-03-05T13:31:06Z</time>
</trkpt>

For that reason I don't think gpx would ever take over from IGC: the comps need a secure format for scoring, which only IGC can provide, and there's no reason to use a different format when everybody's used to gpsdump etc. which produce IGC.
My using gpsbabel and gpx files is very unusual. The reason is gpsdump requires the garmin driver, whereas gpsbabel doesn't.

You are right, we do not make use of any security information contained in any .igc file. The UK NXCL competition has always relied on the integrity of its competitors, and this will continue to be the case. It remains the responsibility of competitors to police their own competition. Should any decide to cheat they'll simply be named, shamed, barred and historical results expunged!

If, Andrew, you have examples of your GPS flight tracks in GPX format do please forward them so I can have a look. To date, no one has sent one in and no one else has queried whether of not they can/could be used.

If .IGC can be supported, then I think it's likely that the common .GPX format could be supported by the website too.

By the way the online Calameo viewer thing is pretty good :)

I have edited my Original post to make it rather clearer.

In years gone by the panel boughrt a lot of OS maps that are still carried about in a big box. When we landed we used to come back and stick pins in them and then measure who got where with a piece of string.

Babs, not all areas in the UK have the same hols….and not all workers/fliers can take leave when the hols are on cause of the co workers with kids…? See?

xx JB

Its the info that is spewed out from the results programme that causes the problem.
As well as a lack of some vital info, there is a issue with co-ords as UKNXCL works with OS, and the scoring prog (designed for world wide use) works with lat long.

Why are all the comps while the children are at school? Let start being family friendly!

Friday 1st May @ School
Tuesday 5th May @ School
Friday 22nd May @ School
Monday 20th July @ School
Tuesday 21st July @ School
Wednesday 22nd July @ School
Thursday 23rd July @ School
Friday 24th July @ School

This adds up to 8 days out of school due to hanggliding comps if we all want to go.

Below is what i get in my blasted email box from ONE post that has been replied to.

I use such forums to discuss technical stuff for my job and other interests. They work really well for geting a quick answer from a well versed geek for that sort of thing.

However unless there are a lot of regular posters then forums just do not work as a means of communication, they just die, and a simple mailing list is superior.

Gordon

So what Clicky group are you a member of,?

I fully understand your point but the only interaction I have the the HG groups is through these e mails.

From what interaction I have just had with this web site, it is realy easy to use, unlike the others that I have tried and been quicky frustrated with…

I may find some problems with it in the future but nothing yet..

I used to use freinds reunited but that was quickly replaced with facebook, this site at first glance is just as easy to use as facebook….

Sorry will, it gets my vote until I see something better..

Regards

Wayne Thompson.

Sorry I do not get the point, we are a small community as it is

The HGCOMPS mailing serves it purpose for the 50-80 (?) pilots who need
to communicate about the BOS, etc ‘comps’ scene. The NXCL forum would be
for those interested in the pursuit of XC flying, and whilst there is
some cross over, I can envisage members from both groups not always
being interested in the other, so it makes sense to separate.

The only complaint I have a about the tool is the advertising on the
right & bottom of page (~20% ad space), but lets see how it goes. For
the RW forum we’ve been using Mark Leavesly’s forum tool for a few years
now and it works well with only a subtle 3% of ad space in the top left.
Nev

Regards Will Greenwood.

This maybe something useful for you guys.

http://nxcl.collectivex.com/

See you in Àger!

Nicky
www.ager2010.com

We hope to be awarded the Europeans in 2010 but whatever happens the Open will be run from 11th - 18th July 2009 ( task days)
Competition information is on the website Àger Open

Please be patient for the next few days while I sort out any teething problems with the registration system. If you have any problems with rego please email me : nicky[at]ager2010.com

We look forward to seeing you in Àger!
Nicky

The full article

British Open Series – will again comprise 3 x 5 day events all of which will be over bank holiday weekends.

• 1st Round: Fri 1st to Tue 5th May – Long Mynd/Mid-Wales with comp HQ same as last year.
• 2nd Round: Fri 22nd to Tue 26th May – Yorkshire Dales/North Yorks with comp HQ at Green Dragon, Hardraw (same as last year).
• Final: Fri 28th Aug to Tue 1st Sep – SE Wales with comp HQ in Crickhowell (details to be finalised)

All of the above detail has yet to be confirmed with local clubs and landlords of comps HQs.

Nationals – unfortunately some information required to finalise this is not available yet but the panel have chosen dates so that pilots can book holidays; these are Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th July 2009.

Option 1 – venue Ager with our Nationals running immediately or soon after the Pre- Europeans. CIVL is still considering the Spanish bid to run the 2010 Europeans at Ager but dates for the practice event have not yet been announced, however they should be very similar to the 2010 dates (4-18 Jul).

Option 2 – the fall-back position is to go to Laragne over the same period.

Please note that arrangements for comps in other countries are always subject to agreement by the local club and the national governing body.

John

Grant Crossingham

Robin Hamilton

Carl Wallbank

Gary Wirdnam

The following first reserve is expected to be added to the above four man team once the total number of entries is confirmed based on the WPRS nation ranking on 1 Feb 2009. Until all teams with four pilots entered in the worlds have been offered a fifth place, this 5th pilot will not be scored for the team event or be eligible for a team medal.

Bruce Kavanagh

The following additional reserve pilots have been selected in priority order:

Gordon Rigg

Dave Matthews

Kathleen Rigg

Thanks to our sponsor for the event Eurocell Ltd

Results XC 1st keith matthews 41k 2nd richard hunt 16k 3rd mike cushion 14k
Spot 1st keith matthews 25points 2nd steve meadows 20 points 3rd steve biggs 15points

Seems like you probably already have enough advice.

We have found nearly all pilots very happy with the Tenax bought from Avian.

You have the point about extra "Avian" chest buckles. Several pilots have been pleased to have these just after a zip failure.

Regarding sizing. The main point is to measure yourself accurately. I tend to go on about it but quite often we find pilots making personal allowances for whatever reason. The important thing to do is to measure in say jeans and T shirt. Do it twice to check you have it right.

Then let us know if you want a tight or loose fit.

My advice is probably different so some of the other here:

It does depend upon how much stuff you want to carry in the back pocket of the harness but I would say "Default Large" rather than tight or small. I think this is probably more important if you are a thin pilot rather than a larger pilot.

Other options.

Trimmer. (Worth having with the 'kick ass' system)

Parachute side: Normally recommend Left hand side. (So that it is on a different side to the VB rope. You can reach across with your right hand arm hopefully (Wrekage permmitting.))

Do let us know what sort of 'chute especially if you are using a dual parachute.

Drogue Chute. Don't bother. Can be very dangerous if used incorrectly.

Finally colours: It is really worth making very clear exactly where you want the colours if you have a none standard scheme. (You can't make it too clear.) Generally the front of the harness is much more likely to get dirty so perhaps bear that in mind.

I hope this is of some use.

Steve E

Mine came without the buckles I had ordered but I returned it and they were
added without any problem. Most people I have spoken to say chest buckles
are a must and I would have to agree.

Martin

Steve Elkins recommended getting two extra buckles sewn in to the front - I
can definitely recommend this too now (if its not standard).

Nev

Trev

For angle of dangle adjustment you must have something that can be
adjusted without using your hands so you can do it really easily. The
rope and cleat arrangement on older harnesses and beginner's harnesses
is too fiddly for competition flying as you need to be adjusting it on
entering and leaving every thermal.

Keep a careful eye on the webbing on the kick ass system, as it only
seems to last 1-2 seasons of hard flying before needing replacing, and
ensure that there's a backup to stop you going fully head down if the
webbing snaps. I find the kick ass really good. I know some swear by the
rope/slider system on the Woody Valley but I worry about the lack of a
front rope to keep you head up in a parachute deployment. I could see
the slider going to the back and you landing on your head under parachute.

The plastic storage compartment in the tail of the Tenax is really useful.

For protecting the tail of your harness from wear Shoe Goo is really
good. It sets as a tough flexible outer layer that lasts well.

Let me know if you need any more info especially if you're doing
something for skywings.

Cheers,

Bruce