Navigate to start kite

[Dewi]

Probably an old question but twigged my cogs when reading the recent Controllers briefing notes.

At Croeso the start kite on "Day 2" was on a crag and it was a caned taped route (not funnel) to it.

I was asked a few times do i need to run to the start kite..hmm I was not going to get into the ins and outs and said not 100% sure but it is taped to the start kite so follow the tapes.

Had a read thru (search facility in the BO 2025 rules PDF is not helpful) but could not see a rule whereby a competitor MUST start their course from the start kite. Does a rule exist/did it ever?

[SJC]

Had a read thru (search facility in the BO 2025 rules PDF is not helpful) but could not see a rule whereby a competitor MUST start their course from the start kite.

Regardless of what the rules say, if there is a better route to the first control than that which automatically take you to the start kite then it is bad planning. Who is going to police it, and how close to the start kite do you need to go 5m, 10m, 20m ?

[pete.owens]

If there is a taped route indicated on the map then it is compulsory to follow it - whether that is to the start, to the finish or somewhere mid-way on the course.

[King Penguin]

People got disqualified in this year's WMOC sprint for not going via the start kite.

[Dewi]

Thanks KP - so does the IOF rule (if there is one) apply to BO events? I'm assuming there is one as competitors could not be disqualified if there wasn't one.

[pete.owens]

The rule (in the UK and elsewhere) is that you must follow marked routes.

There is a marked route to the starting point. The starting point is marked with a control flag in the terrain, and a start triangle on the map. The marked route to the starting point must be followed.

[NeilC]

If there is no marked route then you don't need to go to the start kite (at least at a non IOF event in the UK).

[Homer]

I saved considerable time not visiting the start kite at this race. Disqualify me if you like. As long as you disqualify everyone else who did similar....

[awk]

If there is a taped route indicated on the map then it is compulsory to follow it - whether that is to the start, to the finish or somewhere mid-way on the course.

Having looked through the rules, I can't find any rule that states this. The closest I get is 7.7 "Competitors must follow any compulsory routes for the whole way (these will be marked by coloured tape(s) other than yellow or yellow and black tape)" and 26.3 "Organisers must use tape other than yellow and yellow/black to mark compulsory routes in the terrain." Neither of these say that marked routes are compulsory, only what must happen if a route is compulsory. A route may not be compulsory, in which case competitors don't have to follow the tapes the whole way. At WMOC it was stated in the details that the route to the start was compulsory, which suggests it might not always necessarily be so.

[Dewi]

I was pointed to rule 17.2 Any part of the course where the competitor is obliged to follow a compulsory route must be clearly and precisely indicated on the map by a dashed line. Competitors must follow the entire length of such a route.

This is in the Course Drawing section of the rules. Therefore for this rule to apply there needs to be a marked route (dashed line) on the map from the map box area to the start triangle, when the route is taped on the ground to the start kite.

Presumably if this is not on the map but there is a taped route you are not obliged to use it and therefore you do not have to run to the start kite to start your course.

[Dewi]

In PP you would need to use the "Timed Start" special symbol to dictate that there is a marked route to the start, that would then align to rule 17.2.

[Homer]

Capture.PNG (86.99 KiB) Viewed 977 times

Hopefully this image of the beginning of my course at Croeso Day 2 makes the issue clear. My GPS trace starts on the start line. Anyone going to the start triangle will lose considerable time compared with my route. Before starting I watched the majority of people doing exactly what I did.

In my opinion this is a combination of poor planning and poor organising (or maybe just poor communication). The set up of the start should be such that the best route to the first control is via the start triangle. In this case the start line should have been further up the hill. It's a shame because the rest of the course was excellent.

[pete.owens]

It can be much worse than that. On several occasions I have run back through the start lanes.

[pete.owens]

Capture.PNG

Hopefully this image of the beginning of my course at Croeso Day 2 makes the issue clear.

But presumably in that case there was a marked route to the start (it doesn't look as if it would be visible), otherwise is would be a bit of a challenge to find it (or anywhere else) from a random unmarked point on the hillside.

And if there was a marked route then following it would be mandatory.

[Dewi]

This was the start quandry I created the thread for, Day 2 Croeso, as I was running the start (with many others). The route to the start kite was marked on the ground with stakes and tape (I put them out!) so competitors should have followed them, but with hindsight the map did not have the "Timed Start" symbol added to the map from the start unit to the start kite.

So those that did not go to the start kite would be excluded from rule 17.2..whether they are excluded from Rule 4 others can decide:

4 Fairness
4.1 The spirit of fairness and good fellowship is to be the guiding principle in all aspects of the sport, including the interpretation of these Rules.
4.2 Competitors must not try to gain an unfair advantage over other competitors. This includes, but is not limited, to:
4.2.1 Looking at the competition courses in advance, unless permitted by the Organiser.
4.2.2 Visiting the competition area in advance if it is subject to an embargo.
4.2.3 Taking drugs to enhance their performance.
4.3 Competitors taking part in any event under these Rules are deemed to accept the testing
procedures, disciplinary procedures and penalties set out by UK Anti-Doping Ltd or its
successor.

Don't worry, plans for Croeso 2028 already started.