Competition Entry Requirements

• All UK Pilots: Must be current BHPA members with a minimum rating of Pilot. 
• Non-UK based pilots: Must hold a minimum pilot rating of Pilot or its equivalent. For pilots holding a qualification awarded by another nation’s hang gliding association this must be at least equivalent to the International Safepro 4 standard. An FAI IPPI card may be required as proof of this.
• All Pilots: Will be required to use a suitable GPS or combined GPS/instrument for scoring purposes - 3d track log recorded as IGC file is recommended. 
  An instrument that records barometric and GPS altitude is to be preferred.
  If you can please work out a way to send in your igc file by email from your phone after you land. This saves a lot of time scoring the day.
  There are many phone apps that will record an igc while you fly, such as Richard Hunts "tracker" on android. This makes it easy to email in your track log.  https://mycloudbase.com/tracker/download.htm
• The scoring program we use takes the track log from your GPS, to produce the results. You must have your own instrument, and know how to use it, especially in respect to turn-points (waypoints).
  If you need to get the track log from an instrument that needs its own special lead, be sure to bring the lead with you.
• Though we try to avoid doing so, you may be required to enter a new waypoint invented on the hill, using coordinates supplied on the day. These will be in the format: DDD, MM.MMM, so prepare your instrument in this format
• Radios: Competition pilots are recommended to fly with a Radio.  Information about the safety channel will be provided at the initial briefing.

At its February meeting, the Competitions Panel decided that, for a number of reasons, the 2023 BOS competitions will not be registered for CIVL Category 2 status.  The reasons behind the decision are detailed in the “Category 2 Reasoning” paper available here.

BRITISH OPEN SERIES - COMPETITIONS

Classes

Three BOS Championship Classes:

• Class 1 (Flexwing Gliders)
• Class 5 (Rigid Wing Gliders)
• Club Class (Flexwings + other glider types accepted with a ‘handicap’).
  Club Class is a separate, but closely linked competition for less experienced competitors who do not feel ready to commit to national competition level. 
  The scoring for the BOS Series Championship for Club Class is different to the other classes to allow more flexibility in task setting.

Sports Class Trophy

While there will be no separate Sports Class competition in 2023,
a Sports Class Trophy will be awarded at the end of the BOS Series, to the highest scoring Class1 competitor, flying a king posted glider.
 

The Competitions: 

• Individual BOS Rounds: 
  • For each of the above classes
  • Each round is scored separately
     
• The BOS Championship: 
  • For each of the above classes
  • Scored across all valid scoring tasks across all rounds in the Series
     
• The British Open: 
  • For Class 1 
  • Normally held in Round 1

Consideration of future inclusion of a Sports Class will be included in the BOS Review planned for September 2023.

BOS Club Class Championship - Additional Information

While the Club Class competition has aimed to provide a stepping stone into the Open Class, it has not achieved this as well as had been anticipated in recent years.  The Club Class competition for 2023 will be more flexible to allow a change of site or task if that is likely to result in better flying experiences for Club Class entrants. 

Club Class - Glider Handicap system 

While the Club Class is designed for Flexwings, a handicap system will be used to allow pilots flying Topless or Rigids to enter.  The details of the handicap will be confirmed later.
 

Club Class - Tasks

Increased flexibility for Club Class has been built in, aiming to allow better flying experiences for entrants.  Decisions about whether or not to set an XC Task and/or use the same site as Class 1 and Class 5, will be made by the Meet Director in consultation with the Safety Committee and Club Class entrants. 
Alternatives could include:

• Moving to an easier site if bottom landings are problematic (for example at Camlo)
• Downwind XC task from a different site
• Grid Tasks in front of the same or an alternative hill (More information to follow)  
• Ridge race (same or alternative hill)
• Top or bottom landing accuracy
• Others as suggested by pilots with local knowledge
• Joining the BOS Challenge group for non-scoring flying challenges
   

Club Class - Scoring

• Scoring will need to allow for a more flexible range of tasks.  While the same scoring system, as used in the BOS Championship described above will be used for XC Tasks, a task specific scoring system will be agreed on the day if an alternative task is to be used. On some days the decision may be made that the scoring for an alternative task would not be included in the Series Scores.
  ‘normalised’ to 500 points for Club Class Series scores. This means tasks will be scaled UP or DOWN.
   
• To allow a fair result at the end of the Series for Club Class, each scored task which is to count will be
   
• Where an alternative task is to run on the same site as the BOS Championship task, the window for Club Pilots may be closed for a period of time to give priority to Class 1 and Class 5 entrants.
   

Club Class - GBAR Points

Points gained in GBAR will not count for the Club Class Series scores.

Moving up a class from Club Class

The previous requirement to ‘move up’ a class after winning the Club Class Series has been withdrawn for 2023, as the Panel feel this should be pilot choice based on readiness rather than a single win.  Pilots who have previously ‘moved up’ but would prefer to remain in/return to Club Class will have the option to do so.

• It has been agreed however that a Club Class pilot may not win the Club Class Series Trophy two years in succession. 
   
• If a Club Class entrant feels ready to move up a class mid-series, they may do so at no additional cost.  Series points from the Club Class will not count towards the new Class points.

Review of Club Class

We will review the future of Club Class in September 2023, alongside a wider consultation about the BOS. 

Newcomers Guide to Competition - TO FOLLOW

For newcomers to competition a separate guide about what to expect will be available soon.

 

BOS Championship Competition - Retrieve

There will be no organised retrieve, but entrants may opt-in to a Retrieve System. 

BOS Retrieve System

The retrieve system will be an adaptation of the pyramid retrieve system used elsewhere.  A review has been undertaken following GBAR and a BOS retrieve guide will follow. 

In the meantime the following information might be useful.

Pilot retrieve is a particular issue especially for pilots who are attending an event on their own, with no dedicated retrieve person.  To help these people we will run a "pyramid retrieve" system, whereby the first pilots back to base get the next ones to land, and so on until everyone is collected.  It will run using the system based on xcrt.aero and Telegram, already widely used in paragliding competitions and used successfully at the GBAR hang gliding tow event in 2022. Further details and a novice's guide will follow, but in the meantime pilots can see how it works by looking at the guide on https://flyaszent.com/xc-retrieve/ and testing it by joining the Telegram group XCR Test Group (New).

 

 

 

 

BOS Championship Competition - Tasks: 

• Tasks for Class 1 and Class 5
  Will run in parallel, as in previous years.  While there may be small differences to aspects of the tasks for each Class, normally all pilots in the BOS Championship Competitions will fly the same task, with Class 1 and Class 5 being scored separately.
  Race to Goal tasks with a number of waypoints will normally be set to provide a challenging platform for experienced pilots to compete directly against others, on the same task, on the same day, in the same conditions.
  Depending on the conditions, the Meet Director may set goal tasks as an elapsed time race or a race with one or more start gates.  A ‘Race to Anywhere’ task may also be set if conditions dictate.

• Tasks for Club Class
  Where this will provide the best experiences for Club Class entrants, the same, or similar tasks will run as for the above classes, with larger turnpoints and shorter goals
   
• Task Decisions
  Tasks will be set by the Meet Director in consultation with a Task and/or Safety Committee. 
  In the event of Club Class potentially being better served by doing a different task, or going to a different site, such decisions will be made in collaboration with Club Class entrants.

BOS Rounds

Each BOS round is scored as a separate competition using the scoring principles set out below. The scores produced by the FSComp scoring software will count in full for each round.

BOS round task scores that count towards the BOS Championship will be: 

• Scaled down to 500 points for Classes 1 and 5 
• Normalised to 500 points for Club Class

Further details below.

Championship Scoring:

 

• All scoring is carried out using the current FSComp software.
• Pilots are responsible for providing a valid tracklog for each flight. 
• Your GPS with 3D recording is preferred, preferably with Barometric altitude.
  It is possible to use a smart phone for the track log recording and also for navigation. Many phones also have barometric pressure sensors
• Where the pilot has multiple recordings we will attempt to award the best score available from the recordings. This may include more than one partial recording
• We are happy to receive valid tracklogs via email. 
• The quicker you get your GPS back to the scoring room, the quicker we can get some scores generated. 
• We aim to get scores published by 10pm 
• Scoring parameters used in the FSComp software: these are fixed and to be used throughout the Series.
• The BOS Championship will be determined by the best scoring tasks (up to a maximum of 6) for each pilot across all scoring events during the BOS Series.
• All Class 1 and Class 5 scores that count towards the BOS Championship will be scaled down to 500 points. This means that if the winner of a particular task scores more than 500 points in that task, all scores for that task will be proportionally scaled back to the extent necessary to give the task winner exactly 500 points for the task. For example, if the task winner scores the maximum 1,000 points for the task, then for the purpose of the BOS Championship (but not the individual competition), all scores will be halved. The task winner will score 500 points towards the BOS Championship and everyone else will score half of the full value of that task. 
• In Club Class, to take account of the increased flexibility in the types of tasks possible, any scores that count towards the BOS Championship will be normalised to 500 points. This means tasks will be scaled UP or DOWN to 500 points.

See next section for information about the possible inclusion of some GBAR points.

Rules

Rules set out in the HG Competitions Panel Constitution and local rules published in advance of a BOS event will apply.  Otherwise, the Meet Director will follow the principles set out in the FAI sporting code but has the discretion to deviate from these as appropriate.

https://www.fai.org/civl-documents - under the 8th item (Sporting Code - other rules etc.)

Misconduct

Misconduct by pilots and their supporters will be dealt with by the Meet Director and/or Hang Gliding Competitions Panel in accordance with the FAI Sporting Code Section 7, Chapter 13.  

Paragraph 13.2 lists examples of misconduct, including "Bringing the sport, CIVL or the FAI into disrepute".  For the avoidance of doubt, this is considered to include road rallying, inconsiderate or dangerous parking, and unauthorised vehicle access onto private land.  This list is not exhaustive and is subject to the discretion of the Meet Director and/or Hang Gliding Competitions Panel.

Penalties

Penalties will be proportionate and applied in line with guidance in the FAI Sporting Code General Section Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.3, which allows for penalties up to and including disqualification. This could be disqualification from a task, a day, a round or the series.

Concerns

If anyone involved is unhappy about any aspect of the BOS Event (apart from scoring issues), they should raise this with the Meet Director in the first instance, or another HG Comps Panel Member in attendance, as soon as possible.  https://hgcomps.uk/panel-members

A formal protest may be lodged if necessary.

Scoring 

Deadlines: 

• If the provisional results are published before 10 pm, concerns must be submitted before 8:30 am the next day.
• If the provisional results are published after 10 pm, concerns must be submitted before 12 noon the next day.
• The time of the publication of results is the time the results are posted on the official Telegram Group unless notified otherwise.
• Final day deadline for raising a concern about the scores will be 1 hour after publication of results.
• If a scoring concern is raised, it will be reviewed by the Scorer and a decision made.  
• Should the pilot be unhappy with the Scorer’s decision a formal protest may be lodged

Protests

• Protests may be lodged with respect to scoring or other issues related to any aspect of the competition.
• Protests will be reviewed by the Meet Director who may involve others not affected by the outcome.  
• The Protest fee is £10 (which will be returned if a protest is upheld).

WHAT TO EXPECT - A NEWCOMER GUIDE TO COMPETITION

This information may be of particular interest to anyone new to competition flying or who has been away from UK competitions for some time. If you still have questions about any aspect of the competitions after reading this guide, please feel free to email us on hgcompspanel@gmail.com or post a question on the Telegram Chat group referred to below.

Why enter a BOS competition

Flying in competition allows you to challenge and expand your flying experiences in one of the most supportive and welcoming environments you will find. 

What is involved and what happens next? 

This brief guide covers what to expect during the first few days at your first competition.

What to do in advance of a competition

Find out about the Base:

The Base is normally in or near a Caravan Site.  Information on the Base for each round is published on the HG Comps Website. 
Find out about the Sites: Read the site guides for the clubs surrounding the area where you are going.  You will find links to the relevant clubs on the BOS tab on the  HG Comps Website

Join the BOS Telegram Chats:

If you do not use Telegram then you need to download Telegram first.  BOS Official, BOS Scurrilous (others may be added)
If you know another pilot who is on the group, ask them to invite you, otherwise email us on hgcompspanel@gmail.com

Mobile Phones & Trackers: 

For Android users, install Richard Hunt’s Tracker application. 
Tracker will:

• automatically send your location by text to up to two of your contacts, at a time interval of your choice, which will relieve the stress from your retrieve and get you back to base quicker;
• record an IGC tracklog which can act as a backup in case your main GPS tracker fails;
• connect to Livetrack24 and other online services so that your friends can follow your progress on the Internet in real time (e.g. on https://xcrt.aero).

Download Richard Hunt’s Tracker from here
https://www.mycloudbase.com/tracker/download.htm.  

• Follow the instructions on the website carefully, in particular the instructions at https://www.mycloudbase.com/tracker/readme.htm for preventing your phone’s battery management tools from switching Tracker off when you don’t want it to!
• Once you press start Tracker will send messages as soon as it has reception - that may be once you take off and climb.  So even if you don't have reception on launch, press START anyway.
• If you choose to use auto-stop,  remember to restart after top-land, or if you move more than the set [200m] distance away from where you started Tracker.
  • You are recommended to test your tracker in advance of a competition, e.g. travelling to work.

For iphones users: FlySkyHy is what is generally pointed to for iPhone
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flyskyhy/id516879039

Check Mobile phone coverage:

The different operators, coverage varies greatly between venues.  A cheap pre-pay phone on a different network is useful as a backup.  Please use a mobile phone coverage checker or ask for information on the Telegram Chat.

Upload Waypoints to your GPS:

Waypoint files for the competitions will be posted on the HG Comps Website no later than one week before.  Upload the waypoint files if you know how to do so, or can get someone to help you.  If you need help with this please email us on hgcompspanel@gmail.com and we will help make arrangements for support.

Entering Coordinates into GPS:

Occasionally you may also need to enter coordinates into your GPS.  If you do so, then this will be in "decimal minutes" format (DDD.MM.MMM), so set your instrument accordingly and try from the comfort of your sofa.  Again you can ask for support with this at the time.

Controlled airspace:

An openair format file for controlled airspace will be available for download from  this section of HG Comps website no later than one week before. You are recommended to use an instrument that can display airspace and provide warnings. The responsibility for remaining legal remains with the pilot. Feel free to carry an up to date paper map also.

We may also provide additional updates for NOTAMS and such during the competition.

Register in advance: 

Procedures for registration will be posted on the HG Comps Website. If you register before the date set for registration you will pay less.  Surcharges apply after this date and for individual round entries. 

Car sharing:

Use the BOS scurrilous Telegram chat to liaise with other pilots participating in the same event as you about options for car sharing. 

On arrival

Try to arrive in good time, the afternoon before if possible. This will give you an opportunity to set up camp, meet people, and gently settle into an initially alien world at ease.  Competitions are all about being organised and minimising the stress of last minute panics.

In the evening:

You are advised to check with someone that your GPS and your Tracker is set up correctly.  There will be experienced pilots on the campsite who can help with this but please try to  make arrangements in advance through the Telegram Chat.

If you have arranged to car share, try to meet up with others in your group. Meet up early with the rest of your group to decide which cars will be going up the hill, and then load it up with (say) three gliders.  If this cannot be done the evening before then meet early the next morning. 
This needs to be done before the briefing as everything happens very quickly afterwards.  

Registration

You will have registered for the event on-line in advance.  This will normally be followed up  at the first morning briefing: usually 9.00am, where:

• You will be marked as present (if you arrive late, you must register with Meet Director before flying)
• BHPA membership will be checked if necessary (e.g. expiry was due after online registration). Note that BHPA provide an online membership card so you can show your membership on your phone.
• Important telephone numbers will be shared
• Access to the Telegram Groups will be confirmed.
• Information about how to get involved in social events may be shared though this is more likely to happen on Telegram group.
• It is important to check that you do in fact have ALL the waypoints required.  On some instruments you will need to delete all the existing ones first to make space and if you have neglected to do so may have less than you think.
• If you have not yet made arrangements for car sharing, make this known now so that the number of vehicles going to the hill can be reduced as far as possible.

On the first day

Briefing is usually 9.00am for 15 - 30 minutes (depending on weather and site).  This will be at the campsite or other nominated meeting point nearby.  Time and location will be announced on the BOS Official Telegram group the evening before. 
The briefing will normally include: 

• a weather briefing, 
• NOTAM briefing, 
• which site we are heading to
• anything else organisational that cannot be done on Telegram
• In the case of bad weather: talks may also be arranged and alternative tourist suggestions made.

Subsequent briefings may take place in an alternative venue or on a hill.  Where this is the case, the decision may be notified on BOS Official Telegram the evening before.

• At the end of briefing, everybody will then disappear quite quickly into their transport and drive to the hill - so it is helpful to know where this is and where you are going from somebody in advance.
• The first day is usually more shambolic than described, you will fall into routine quite easily after that.
• As the Meet Director may provide additional information or decisions using the BOS Official Telegram, it is important to check this regularly during the competition.

On the hill

You will probably find pilots already there ahead of you who will be assessing conditions.  Rig once other people start rigging.

Once everybody is rigged there will then be a site and task briefing, followed by another brief lull while the clock ticks down until launch opens - normally indicated by a blast of the Meet Director’s horn.  

If using Tracker: 

Press START in advance (with activation distance of say 200m) and then stow it in your harness and forget it until you land. 

If using auto-stop,  remember to restart after top-land, or if you move more than the set [200m] distance away from where you started Tracker.

You can, and should, then launch to get established early in the air.  

On Task

The gliders will stay above the hill until the time of the "start gate", only then are you permitted to fly away from the hill.  Leave early and you will get zero points. 

Gliders will try to form into gaggles before then, somewhat ironically competitions are much more about cooperation and collaboration.  The task itself is kept straightforward for the Club Class and you will have been briefed separately on the hill if flying in Club Class.

On landing

Stop Tracker: If you are using Tracker, remember to press STOP. This will automatically send your location to your named contact(s) in Tracker.

Send Landed Safe Message: Text the Land Safe number

Send your landing location:  To BOS Scurrilous Telegram. 

• Send your location by “dropped pin” in Android or Apple maps.  If you don’t know how to do this, ask someone before you fly.  Make sure your retrieve knows how to get directions to a dropped pin.
• Update it if you subsequently move, for example if you carry your glider to the roadside. 
• When your glider is safe to leave, if you are in sight of a gateway near the road, it can be useful to place your harness at the roadside so that anyone driving past can see that there is a pilot in the field.  This is particularly helpful on remote country roads.
• Send your location by “dropped pin” in Android or Apple maps.  If you don’t know how to do this, ask someone before you fly.  Make sure your retrieve knows how to get directions to a dropped pin.

Pyramid Retrieve: If you have opted in to the Pyramid Retrieve system, follow agreed instructions for this.  There will be additional Telegram group for tthe Pyramid Retrieve.

After being picked up

Ideally, you should email your igc file to the scorer as soon as possible.  You must also check that the scorer receives this.

Unless you have confirmation that the scorer has received your file and that it looks ok, you must go directly back to the Base and find the scorer.  Check BOS Official Telegram for scorer location.

You must ensure that your igc file is in before going for food or drink.  The reason for this is that your flight will affect all scores and not just your own. 

If you are unsure about how to download your igc file, take your GPS to the scorer who will help you download and check your track.

Go for beer, chat, chill out, charge instruments, and get ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Useful links for sharing locations

• Richard Hunt’s Tracker for Android - http://www.mycloudbase.com/tracker (more info above)
• For iphone users - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flyskyhy/id516879039
• XCRT (retrieve assistance): XCRT.aero
• https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app
• flyaszent.com/xc-retrieve: Full information and instructions on how to use XCRT

Here I Am 2 - https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=com.codesector.hereiam&hl=en

 

BOS 2023 will not be an FAI Category 2 event.  The Panel made this decision at a meeting on 21/2/2023.  The reasons are explained in the following document.

2023 CAT2 decision - reasoning

 

 

 

 

 

Trophies and Prizes

BOS Trophies and Prizes: British Open Series competitions will have prizes in Class 1, Class 5 and Club Class, where there are a minimum of two competitors. There are smaller prizes for each class in each Round, as well as end-of-series trophies. There will also be day prizes, not just for task winners but for other good performances or notable achievements. 

For the series overall, prizes will be awarded based  on each eligible pilot’s 6 highest scoring tasks (including a proportion of GBAR scores if appropriate), scaled down to a maximum of 500 points each, from all scoring days in the Series. 

New for 2023 - There will be a trophy for the highest scoring pilot flying a king-posted flexwing in Club Class 

Perpetual Trophies

The following additional trophies are awarded annually based on BOS results:

• British Open Trophy - Winner of British Open Series Open Competition - usually held during the first BOS round
• Jim Taggart Trophy - British Open Series: Class 1 Winner
• Andy Hollidge Trophy - British Open Series: Class 5 Winner
• BOS Club Class Trophy - British Open Series: Club Class Winner
• Keith Cockcroft Trophy - Best Newcomer in British Open Series 
  The Best Newcomer will normally be defined as the highest scoring pilot who has not entered the BOS Championship Competition before.  In the event that this does not apply, the Panel will make a decision, which could include pilots returning after a long break from competition, or pilots who first entered the competition in the previous two (or three) years.

Perpetual Hang Gliding Trophies not related to BOS

• Alvin Russell Trophy - British National Champion (note: this is a separate competition, not the BOS.)
• Johnny Carr Trophy - Class 5 Winner in British Nationals
• Percy Moss Trophy - Female winner in British Nationals
• Presidents Trophy - Normally longest straight line flight if beating previous year’s winning distance
• UKNXCL Pilot Trophy - UKNXCL: Class 1 winner (Main Table)
• UKNXCL Club Trophy - UKNXCL: Winner of Club Table
• UKNXCL Ralph Bygott Trophy - UKNXCL: Winner of Defined Table
• Dave Loxley Trophy - Longest straight line distance from a winch