Unlimited
For the experienced lads with moldie planes (unlimited), it is business as usual with a flight task of 10 minutes (600 seconds) to be achieved in a working time of twelve minutes, pretty much F3B duration. The landing is task is simplified to a bonus of 50 points if experienced and land with in 3 metre radius. If a novice with a moldie then the same 50 point bonus is achieved by landing in 5 metre radius. The max achievable is thus 650 points, a bit like the old Brit open thermal task.

Low tech and 2 metre experienced
For the low tech and 2 metre planes, the flight task reduces to 8 minutes to be achieved in the same working time of twelve minutes. The resultant net seconds achieved are multiplied by 600/480 to equate to the open guys above. To that is added the 50 points bonus achieved by landing within a 5 metre radius with a Rudder/Elevator/Spoiler craft, or if you are a Promo (novice) pilot. The open lads with more than RES still need a 3 metre radius landing for bonus. The adjusted score added to the landing now also gives a max achievable of 650 points.

2 metre novice
For the Promo (novice) with 2 metre plane, this flight task reduces to 6 minutes to be achieved in the same working time of twelve minutes. The resultant net seconds achieved are multiplied for 600/360 to equate to the open guys above. To that is added the 50 points bonus achieved by landing within a 5 metre radius. The adjusted score added to the landing now also gives a max achievable of 650 points.

Scoring man-on-man
Now that all are equated to 650 points it is simple process to score all those flying in same slot as man-on-man normalised out of a 1000 points. Reference to the BVMT club rules shows the intermediate step of converting the 650 maxes to 1000 before man-on-man scoring, this is so the event by event balance is maintained, should we opt not to fly man-on-man on any particular day because of a shortage of winches or whatever.

Where event encompasses more than just club and becomes provincial or national in nature, then one dispenses with the Open/Promo distinction and the six minute 2 metre class becomes G2K craft flown by novices (never entered a thermal soaring contest of any kind) only.

Summary
Some have suggested that the 8 to 10 minute distinction is not significant. Being able to wait the extra time to launch has a useful handicap advantage and when the chips are down and folk battling to max, the score handicap advantage can hurt the open lads.

Interesting is that it was the intention to revise our BVMT event rules each year, but it has been unanimous to retain this format for some years that this fulfils all the club guys want out of a contest, and may explain why handicap has made golf so popular!

Dave