Scottish Nationals
Me
The Scottish Nationals this year are being run using a different
set-up to the traditional weekends run by each club. Instead there
are a number of tasks that can be flown throughout the year, with
pilots accumulating points for any tasks attempted. The winner
will be the pilot with the highest score at the end of the season
(31st October).
Each of the 5 Scottish clubs has 2 home tasks, therefore 10
tasks, and there is an extra one along the Ochils.
Scoring is 1000 points for completing the task and a straight percentage for a non-completed task (ie 500 points for getting halfway).
A 10% bonus is available for attempting / completing a task set by a club that is not the pilot's main SHPF club, again as a percentage of the distance of the task flown. This is to encourage travelling to fly with other clubs. There is no bonus for the Ochils task.
Tasks can be flown multiple times, with the best flight for each task counting for the pilot's final total.
Only weekend flights will be scored (Saturdays and Sundays) but you can obviously practice on other days.
The Nationals will run from 01/04/2023 through to 31/10/2023.
While I am a bit late getting this out, if anybody has
accidentally done all or part of a task today then they can enter
the flight as I'm the only one who knows all the tasks and that
the competition is open, and I didn't fly yesterday.
The tasks do not need to be declared in the pilot's instrument
for the Nationals. Your track log needs to be an igc file and will
score as long as there is a track point within the cylinder around
the start point and you fly along the route. A track point is then
also needed in any subsequent turn-point or end cylinder to score
to that point.
The flights need to comply with the UK XC League rules, i.e.
keeping clear of any airspace that you are not allowed to fly in.
If you wish to score a declared flight in the XC League then you
will need to enter into your instrument the start point, the turn
point for the out and return tasks, and the end point. The 400m
radius circles are for the declaration and you need to have a
track log point in any of the circles around the turn points. Note
that XC League multipliers are not applied for the Nationals as
the scores are points-based on a completed task. You can however
get them if you enter the flight into the XC League.
Pilots should check with the local clubs before flying in
case there are site restrictions, such as lambing or nesting
birds.
https://www.highlandhgpgclub.co.uk/
https://www.wingbeat-paragliding.co.uk/
Tasks and flights can be found here:
http://www.scotnat.xcmap.net/index.php?c=Scottish%20Nationals&y=2023
Click on the task and you can download files to put in your GPS
or upload your flight igc file. For the Nationals you do not need
to have the route in your instrument as a declaration, though it
will help with navigation.
The tasks are:
AHPC: Morrone to Aboyne (40km)
AHPC: Tap O Noth to Cullen (38km) (the club has offered to pay for the ice cream of anybody who makes it to Cullen and buys one there)
Highland: Five Sisters out and return, from above the Cluanie Inn, along to near Shiel Bridge and back (26km)
Highland: Creag Meagaidh to Kingussie (32km)
SMPC: White Corries to Crianlarich (30km)
SMPC: Aberfoyle to Killin (32km)
LLSC: Broughton to Stow (34km)
LLSC: Tinto to Moffat (33km)
Wingbeat: Cacra to Peebles (24km)
Wingbeat: Newark Hill to Kelso (33km)
Ochils: out and return from Dumyat to Yetts o Muckhart and back to Dumyat (35km)
I hope everyone has fun with this and see you on the hills.
Matt Church
SHPF Nationals Coordinator