SPOT
Spot tracking devices will be available for this competition. Spot is a small (mobile phone size), internal battery powered device that has a GPS for position and communicates back to base via satellite, so no black spots! They report position every 10 minutes, therefore, there will be the times, in between reports, that we’ll be unsure of the position of gliders. Makes it a bit more interesting!
The tracking will be displayed at the club house on the “big screen” and be available on the internet so all your buddies can watch how you’re doing!
The Club has 10 spots available and we will have available a further 10 units compliments of the Narromine Club. Additionally, a number of private members have them also so we could have even a few more.
The deployment of the Spots is being and can be debated. The current thinking is to “mix it up a bit” by having all available spots in one class on one day and perhaps five spots in each class with the leaders on the other days. The second approach may provide interest towards the end of the competition when final placings are at stake.
This is a great way to provide interest to those at the competition but left on the ground (crew) and to provide some interest to the rest of Australia and the world on what’s happening at the Australian Nationals.
See also: