| The rules for the British Paragliding Cup are laid out below. It is the responsibility of every pilot to read and understand these rules. If you have any queries please contact the BPCup organisers.
These rules are task focused. For general rules and questions on the competition, registration, briefings, fees, max pilots etc, please see the F.A.Q.
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| 1. Retroactive Rules. |
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There are no retroactive rules.
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| 2. Responsibility. |
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A pilot accepts sole responsibility for his or her decision to fly any tasks, and is deemed responsible for their legal requirements with respect to flying cross country (see 9 below).
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| 3. Fitness to fly. |
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Every pilot must have a sound muscular skeletal system. A pilot will be responsible for producing a doctor's certificate attesting his or her fitness to fly, if in the opinion of the Competition panel there is any reason to query their fitness.
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| 4. Paragliders. |
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Paragliders with either a maximum rating DHV 2/3 or AFNOR Performance are allowed to compete in the overall BPCup. Paragliders with a higher rating are allowed to compete in the individual events but may not score in the overall BPCup. Any prototype or uncertified gliders must be supported with the relevant documentation - i.e. as for the British Championships.
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| 5. Changing glider |
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Once a pilot scores in any event they must fly the same machine throughout that event. In exceptional circumstances, a machine may be changed at the discretion of the Meet Director for an identical rated wing. No pilot may share a machine.
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| 6. Dual flying |
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Dual flying is not permitted and no engines may be used. Dual Paragliders may be allowed at the discretion of the meet director and BPC panel, but will not score in the competition.
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| 7. Launch Order |
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Pilots must fly in the correct take off order (if any) to score. They must also comply with site rules and any time limits or take off rules set by the Meet Director, and respect any requests from launch marshalls with regards to launch procedures.
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| 8. Task details. |
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Details and scoring of each task will be displayed on a board on take off and it is the pilots responsibility to ensure that he/she has checked the task board before take off for any last minute alterations.
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| 9. Airspace |
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Task setting will avoid flying through restricted areas. Pilots must be fully conversant with air law and must be in possession of up to date 1:500000 aeronautical charts. A suitable altimeter must be carried on all tasks. No fly areas, e.g sensitive farms, gliding clubs etc, may have one or more GPS cylinders declared. A GPS tracklog that penetrates the cylinder(s) will not score beyond the entry point and may incur additional penalties as specified at the task briefing.
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| 10. Ballast |
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Ballast which is capable of being jettisoned must be of dry loose sand or water. A competitor must avoid dropping ballast at any time likely to affect other competitors. All Competitors must ensure that any ballast is secure at all times. Dry loose sand is defined as having a fine consistency with granules of not greater than 2mm diameter. The total ballast including all flight equipment and the glider, should not exceed 30 kg in addition to the pilots weight. The pilot's weight is defined as body weight when dressed in jeans, shirt and underwear. Any pilot exceeding the 30kg limit will be penalised 500 points per infringement.
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| 11. Sporting spirit |
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All pilots are expected to conform to the spirit of the competition. Any pilot caught cheating faces expulsion from the BPC.
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| 12. Disagreement |
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Pilots will not approach marshals on duty over a disagreement about scoring. If a pilot disagrees with a score or decision he may state his complaint to the meet director. If the pilot is still unhappy he may lodge a written protest in English within 2 hours of the posting of results (1 hour after the final task of the leg) with a £10 deposit. The organiser will then elect an Appeal Committee of 3 people to take a decision on the issue. The Appeal Committee also decides whether the appeal fee should be refunded and pilots notified of the decision.
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| 13. Stand up landing |
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A stand up landing is one during which no part of the body touches the ground except the feet.
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| 14. Spot landing |
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A spot landing may be of any size or shape and is scored by the pilot's feet as touchdown point. If the spot has more than one scoring area, the score shall be calculated from either the start or finish of the landing, which ever is the lower scoring area, unless otherwise specified.
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| 15. Landing Area |
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If an area is designated as a landing area, and is bounded by lines or hedges, the first point of contact of either pilot or canopy must be within these lines.
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| 16. Reporting to base |
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Text messaging will be the preferred method or reporting to base.Pilots are required to report to or telephone the competition base by a set time after the task to ensure all pilots are accounted for. In addition all competitors must report their exact landing positions in person at the competition base as soon as practical after flying a cross-country task. Failure to do so will delay the scoring for all competitors and will result in disqualification in that task for the pilot concerned.
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| 17. Radio frequencies |
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Transmission on amateur radio frequencies from the air is illegal and may be illegal from the ground without a licence. Pilots are requested to respect the law
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| 18. BHPA Membership |
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Pilots must be current members of the BHPA or, in the case of visiting foreign pilots, be members of their FAI recognised equivalent national body. See 24 below.
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| 19. Ground signals |
Ground signals may be displayed in the launch or landing areas. They are normally made out of fluorescent orange cloth, but may be white.
DAYGLO X = Task is cancelled or suspended.
DAYGLO T = Pilots in the a are required to land as soon as possible.
DAYGLO L = Start gate 90 degree sector.
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| 20. FAl section 7 |
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When the present rules do not cover a particular situation or aspect, section 7 of the FAl Class of "Hang gliders" regulations will be used. Failing this the meet director will be the arbiter.
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| 21. Parachute |
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A recognised emergency parachute must be worn during ALL tasks.
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| 22. Helmet |
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A suitable helmet must be worn in flight at all times, in and outside tasks.
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| 23. Canopy gathering |
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A canopy should be gathered together before take off or after landing to avoid the possibility of confusion with the distress signal agreed with the mountain rescue services
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| 24. Pilot rating |
Competitors are required to hold a BHPA Pilot (Hill Launched) rating. Any visiting foreign pilot must have a recognised equivalent qualification and provide proof of valid 3rd Party Insurance (,2,000,000 cover).
Current BHPA membership cards ( IPPI cards for visiting foreign pilots), FAI sporting licences and insurance documents (where applicable) must be shown at registration.
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| 25. Flight Verification |
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Competitors must verify their flights by means of GPS. This must be either Garmin, MLR, Top Navigator or Compeo and be clearly marked with the pilot number. The GPS must be cleared of all waypoints and track logs prior to registration for each event. After the first task any track log must not be cleared until next task briefing. Full instructions will be given at each briefing. Although we expect to have MLR and Garmin leads, pilots should bring a working serial lead to connect their GPS to the scoring computer.
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| Penalties |
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The following percentages will be deducted from the pilots score for the task in question for failure to provide or comply with each of the following :
Failure to provide a GPS trace 100%
Landing after 'land by time' 100%
Failure to report in by the 'Report By time' - up to 100% at Meet Director's discretion
Failure to hand in Gps at stated time - up to 100 % at Meet Director's discretion
Failure to 'Sign to Fly' 100%
Inappropriate airmanship and attitude - up to 100 % at Meet Director's discretion
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| Scoring System. |
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Penalties are at the discretion of the organisers of the Event.
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| 26. Back up Verification. |
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A second GPS may be used as backup. It must be either Garmin,MLR or Top Navigator and must clearly me marked with pilot number and the words "backup". It will only be accepted if the main Gps has no trace.
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| 27. Thermalling Turns |
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Within a radius agreed on the day by the meet director, the direction of all 360 degree turns over launch must be made according to a rule set at each days briefing until at least 1000ft ATO. Failure to comply with this rule may incur a penalty.
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| 28. False Declarations. |
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In the event of a false declaration of landing position, the penalty will be a distance deduction of 10 times the additional distance claimed. If this error is proved to be due to cheating, the appeals committee will have the right to disqualify the offending pilot.
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| 29. Cloud Flying |
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Cloud flying is not permitted and may lead to disqualification. Every pilot is expected to take appropriate action to prevent the entering of cloud. If a pilot does enter cloud they may not exit with an advantage, but must be seen to retrace their track to the point they entered before continuing the flight.
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| 30. Sign To Fly |
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When a task is set and announced, all pilots must 'sign to fly' if they wish to score. It is the pilot's responsibility to make sure they do sign.
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| 31. Task Validation |
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In the event of the window being closed early, the task will be validated if the window is open for more than 30 seconds per pilot. Here, total pilot number is all originally enrolled less those disqualified or officially withdrawn from the event.
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| 32. Cancelled or Stopped Task |
The Meet Director may cancel a task in case of hazardous weather or other conditions which, in their view, could endanger the safety of pilots before the landing deadline is expired. Cancellation is announced on the safety frequency and by other means stated at the briefing. Pilots on course should acknowledge a cancelled task by flying in 'big ears' if safe to do so.
Cancelled tasks will not be scored unless at least one pilot has landed in goal at the time the task is stopped. Where at least one pilot has landed at goal the task will be scored and pilots’ scores will be determined from their GPS track log position at the time the task was stopped.
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| 33. Safety on Task |
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Pilots on a task who consider conditions have become unsafe must advise the Meet Director via the safety channel.
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| 34. Incident Reporting |
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Pilots involved in any incident that may have put him/herself or any third party in danger must make account to the Meet Director as soon as is practical. Submission of an Incident Form to the BHPA may be required. If the incident occurs in the vicinity of take-off and safe top landing is possible then the pilot should land immediately.
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| 35. Airmanship and Attitude |
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Pilots are expected to show good airmanship and attitude consistent with the FAI Sporting Code. Failure to do so may result in penalties.
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| 36. Previous Winners & British Championship Winners |
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To help encourage new pilots we have instigated a condition, such that if you have been a winner of the BP Cup in the last 5 years or in the top 10 of the Nationals in the same time period then you can only enter the Cup as individual rounds (Open scoring), not to win it. However the presence of experienced pilots at these events cannot be underestimated, they are fonts of knowledge and will selflessly give advice and help to any one who needs it and we think that is part of what makes the Cup such a unique event.
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| 37. New Rules |
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New rules may be brought out prior to the initial briefing. It is the responsibility of pilots to update their copies of the rules.
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| Scoring |
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The official posting time of the of the scoring is usually the morning task briefing.
Overall results will be determined as follows:
If 10 or more tasks are achieved then the best 8 score.
If 7 to 9 tasks are achieved then the best 6 score.
If 6 or less tasks are achieved they all score.
The GAP Methodology for scoring will be used at all meets, and the scoring system will be the CIVL RACE approved system
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