Hand Towing Paragliding Fun Event Rules

   These rules are necessary to ensure that the event flows smoothly, that everybody gets a fair chance, and to prepare for a Guinness World Record attempt. Any changes to these rules will be announced before or on the 16th November 2002.

   prepared by Ulf Arndt and Laura Nelson, funwings@global.co.za,  last modified 12/11/2002
 

 Agenda for 16 November 2002

   Event Description

 A team of runners which pull by  hand tow a manned (or womaned)  paraglider with a rope.

  Two events will be measured per attempt

   - A Speed Run.  Elapsed  time over a marked distance of  250 meters  into wind defined by a start and finish line

  - An Open Distance flight.  Longest open distance achieved measured along a defined heading into wind

 Records will be declared in these events.
 

     Team size

• Maximum team size is 10 runners + 1 pilot.
• Teams can have less than 10 runners.
• All members of the team must be registered before the attempt and may not be substituted by non-registered members during the day of the event
• The runners can be applied in a relay approach.
• Not all runners have to pull at the same time.    Runners can be stationed up front to take over.    Or run or drive along idle and take over when required. Runners can also be dropped in front of current runners by vehicle in order to join the relay again
• The pilot has to be a current Paraglider licensed pilot, Basic license minimum.
• The paraglider wing may not be substituted during the event

   Equipment

•  Each team must prepare their own towline, either from the material provided by the event organizers, or by bringing their own rope. Material provided by organisers will be old winch line that likely may be in entangled lumps (or maybe not). Length of towline is at team’s discretion. The recommended length is approx 50 meters.
• Only pulling by hand is allowed. No harness like connection that will enable a runner to connect to the rope.

• Runners have to provide own gloves and proper footwear. The wearing of boots is highly recommended, as the field could be uneven. Event organizers cannot be held liable for sprained ankles or other injuries or hangovers.

• Pilots have to provide their usual paragliding equipment and a winch release.

•  Team must have 1 GPS capable of 1 second interval track log recording. GPS must be attached to the pilot. GPS must have enough track memory to cover 1 flight
• After each successful attempt the GPS track will be downloaded on a PC.
• The scoring code used is TP, which has been used in the SAHPA competitions and supports most of the Garmin range.
• Your GPS has to be handed in before the event starts to get a Team ID uploaded into the GPS and to ensure that it is suitable for logging the attempts.
• The teams are to be there in good time to ensure that their equipment is ready and approved by the start of the event. The release and knots used must be inspected for winching environment acceptability.
• Teams will be scored for both events in the same attempt.
• Teams can have multiple attempts, as long as the same registered members are used for each attempt.

 1st Event  -  Speed Run  by pulling a Paraglider over a 250 meter distance

    Finish Line - located 250 meters upwind  parallel to start line, also by a  barrier tape on the ground and a streamer pole/wind sock in the center of the line.

• Both the runners and the pilot must be behind the start line with the rope under tension before the start marshal will allow the attempt to begin.

• Pilot has to be airborne when crossing the start line and finish line to have  a valid attempt

• One marshal will be positioned at the start line to confirm pilot is airborne. If not, marshal will call abort, and team has to stop. They will be allowed to make another attempt if they are still within their time window.

• The pilot is not allowed to touch down in between start and finish lines. Should the pilot touch the ground with his footwear between the start and finish lines, it will be taken as his landing spot. In that case the speed run attempt is null and void. Touching the ground with his airbag or harness while his feet are in the air and carrying on flying is allowed. A marshal on a vehicle/bakkie will monitor the attempt for compliance.
• Pilot may use speedbar at any time.
• Pilot can release at any time when he feels he can make the finish line, or for safety reasons. If he lands short of the finish line, his attempt will not be scored for the elapsed time event, but it will be scored for the open distance event.
• The team whose pilot logs the shortest time over the distance is the winner.
• The team can continue pulling the pilot to increase their distance once the pilot has crossed the finish line that signifies the end of the elapsed time event.
• Teams will have a limited time window in which to set up and launch, and have their equipment checked for safety. Should they exceed this window, they must step aside for the next team. It is advisable that teams are ready and the pilot kitted up when they approach the start line, in order to save time. The time window will be announced during the briefing before the event.

   GPS tracklog on a 1 second setting to be used to determine when pilot crosses the start line  and finish line.
   Time interpolation based on the speed between the track points before and after crossing the line  to be used to  determine exact crossing times.

   Runners pull pilot, pilot takes off before the start line ,
    time of pilot crossing over start line gets determined afterwards by GPS track log
  Start line Marshal shouts abort in case pilot was not airborne.
 Runners  tow pilot until pilot flies over  finish line.
  Finish line marshal  clears pilot flying over line.
   GPS track log gets used to determine when pilot crossed finish line.

   Time span = finish line crossing time - start line crossing time

  Idea is to have the shortest time span to be the winner.

 From then on the team can carry on to attempt the ....

 2nd Event -  Open Distance  with a Paraglider Pilot in Tow

  Same rules apply as for the Speed Run.

• Once Pilot touches  with his footwear on the ground he the marshal on the bakkie has to mark this point on his GPS.
• In case of any dispute one will use the waypoint of the marshal to determine the landing position.
• Pilot and runners have to be downwind of the start reference point  when the  tow line is under tension before takeoff
• GPS tracklog on a 1 second setting to be used to determine when he touches down.
• Pilot is  allowed to release and carry on in free flight.
• No thermalling allowed.

    Pilot lands  , GPS gets switched off by marshal

  The team with the biggest distance measured from the lnading point  normal to the startline  is the winner,
  and  gets the record

  General Rules

• Event has to be held on a flat ground. Slope not more 1m down  for 20m forward.  If the landing is lower than the takeoff, then
•  height difference = takeoff height - landing height
•   horizontal distance / height difference  has to be >  20

• The event is open to Club teams (inter Club Challenge) as well as any other teams. Each club can enter as many teams as they can field.
• Teams must have a “coach” to guide the runners by radio. At least one runner must carry a radio on which the coach can communicate with the team. The radio will have to be passed on during relay to ensure communication.
• Only organizer approved GPS units will be used to determine the time and distance flown by each team pilot.

• GPS waypoints to be used for the scoring code to determine center of start and finish line. The Waypoints have to be collected with an averaged 4 meter accuracy or less.
•  The start and finish line length will be unlimited.  Start and Finish lines are virtual lines in the GPS scoring code.Normal to the direction defined by going from the start reference point to the finish reference point.

• Teams have limited window period to launch, otherwise they have to make space for the next team.
• Teams have to wait for the start line marshal to give them the go ahead to launch.
• Start line marshal has to make sure the marshal who is monitoring the run is ready, and that the track is clear.
• One of the marshals shall check that the GPS is switched on.
• If a pilot is not airborne when crossing the line, the team can try again if they are still in the time window. Once the time window has passed, the team must join the queue at the back (if there is a queue).
• Organizers can opt to have 2 or more teams racing against each other, or to have each team complete the course on their own.
• No pilot change allowed during the event.
• No glider substitution allowed.
• No runners may be substituted during the day.
• Pilot is not allowed to have any alcohol.
• Runners can drink anything to boost their performance.
• There can be multiple attempts during a day by each team.
• On a round robin basis each team gets a  take off window to give it a try, until the deadline for the event has been reached. A pilot still airborne at the end of any time window will be scored.
• Teams who are suspected of breaking rules may be protested. Protest will be heard by the Xntrix Club Observer Committee. The fine for any proven misdemeanour will be losing any distance and/or time scored, as well as supplying the protesting team with drinks all round.

• There will be a briefing held before the event starts to notify of any changes to these rules and to cover any questions. During the briefing the time window for each attempt and the opening and closing time of the event will be announced.
• Teams have to register before their first attempt by filling out an entry form stating the date, name of the team,   name of the pilot and and the names of the runners  on the form.  Their GPS will get a number allocated as a waypoint which will later be used to identify the team and their tracklog.

• Marshals will designate the area where a team can get ready for launch.
• Pilot can release whenever it suits him and carry on the flight on his own. Any thermalling will makes this run attempt null and void.

• Only human power allowed to pull the paraglider. No extra animals, like dogs, horses, camels,... are allowed to assist

  GPS procedures for an attempt

• GPS track log must be set on a 1 second setting to determine when pilot crosses the start line  and finish line.
• The organisers will provide a “TEAM ID” in the GPS to ensure that the GPS is used for only one team.
• The team may have a back up GPS, provided it is also declared at the registration.
• GPS track log must be cleared before each attempt. Scoring code takes first track log.
• The GPS must be switched off on landing and the marshal verifies that it has been switched off
• Only the first track log in the GPS track will be scored by the software
• Team tracks are stored as 11 for the first run of team 1,  12 for the second attempt of team 1, ...

  Process of an attempt

• Pilot and runners take up tension
• Bakkie  marshal
•  switches on GPS  next to pilot
•  ensures GPS is set to 1 track point a second sample rate
•  clears track log
•  ensures track log is set to fill mode ( to avoid track overwrite when GPS is not switched off after the run)
•  ensures GPS has acquired and is recording
•  puts GPS into pilot harness
•  signals Start Line marshal that his side is ready
• Start marshal
•  verifies that line is under tension, not touching ground,  no runner is over the start line
•  makes sure other marshals are ready
•  gives the go ahead to the team to start
• team launches pilot
• start line marshal ensures pilot is airborne when crossing the start line
• Pilot lands, Bakkie Marshall marks the point on his own GPS
• Bakkie marshal    switches off track recording , hands back GPS to pilot
• a team member gets GPS to computer scoring
• Bakkie marshal gets back to launch

  Organizers checklist

• Time frame of the event , example on  16 November, from 11.00 to 15.00
• Briefing to be held at 10.00?
• Have power for the computer , computer, software, scorer
• Have GPS GARMIN cables
• Have barrier tape, windsocks, streamers, sticks to mark the start and finish line
• Have a vehicle that drives along with the pilot
• Have 3 marshals and one GPS for the Bakkie Marshal
• When collecting  start and finish reference waypoints, use accuracy averaging until the error is 4 meters or less.

Tips for the teams

• Pilot needs good ground handling, forward or reverse launch skills
• Use a light pilot , the heavier , the more energy you need to get him airborne and keep him airborne
• Use a slow glider in light wind, the problem is to run fast enough over 250 meters and keep the tension
• Use a long line to have the pilot high enough to recover from any line going slack. If the pilot is close to the ground and the wind drops, or the runners slow down, ... your pilot will sink with a 1-2 m/s rate. If the pilot is only 10 meters above the ground you got 5 seconds to get him under tension again.
• Work out a method how to takeover, do the relay while maintaining tension, have spare loops on the rope
• Try to have a GPS with big track memory.  One test run on a GPS12 used up 400 points out of a 1000 track points.
• Not suitable  are  the older GPS 38 or 40 range
• Not suitable is  the eMap, or the low-end eTrex range , which do not record many points when going straight

  Similar Events

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  http://www.gleitschirm-magazin.com/article.php3?id_article=108
 
 
 

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