Rules Rules Rules

[Fratello de Pingu]

personaly i prefer the control circle centered on the flag so i can see which side the control is on without looking at the control descriptions

[Gnitworp]

In the case of a 'point symbol', e.g., pit, knoll, tower, fodder rack, invariably much bigger than the feature it represents, it is safest and clearest to centre the control circle on the 'centre of gravity' of the symbol regardless of the control marker's location relative to the feature, i.e., N side, SE edge, etc.

Where there are several identical features (symbols) within the circle and a 'which of several' qualifier is used, it helps decide which is the feature in question if the circle is centred on the 'centre of gravity' of the symbol. If not, where, for instance, would you centre your circle for the SE side of a pit or fodder rack!

ISOM 2000 stipulates locating the centre of gravity of the symbol at the feature's position on the ground; surely, logically, you must do the same with control circles. Control descriptions clearly designate the 'side' or 'edge'.

In 36 years of orienteering, I have never been able to determine on which side of a 'point feature' the marker is located from only observing the map, and would not expect to. I always expect to look at the description sheet for this, and so, I suspect, does everyone else.

[Adventure Racer]

In CF the circle is centered on the flag

personaly i prefer the control circle centered on the flag so i can see which side the control is on without looking at the control descriptions

In 36 years of orienteering, I have never been able to determine on which side of a 'point feature' the marker is located from only observing the map, and would not expect to. I always expect to look at the description sheet for this, and so, I suspect, does everyone else.

Not such an irrelevant comment as I'd thought. Playing CF, this is a technique I use all the time, as it saves my addled brain (CF runs 4 times as fast as real life!) from having to relate the direction on the control description to that on the map (which is oriented to the direction I'm running). Would be quite neat to use it in real life.

The argument about pit and fodder rack symbols is rather fallacious. Do you ever get a control description specifying the side of such a feature? What exactly is a fodder rack anyway - has anybody actually had that as a control description (I've had "tank" and "aircraft" though IIRC!)? In fact the most obvious symbols where an offset would be useful - rock, knoll - are nicely symmetrical.

[Gnitworp]

Consistency is important. I've certainly had a 'side' of a tower, and where is the north side of a rootstock if you want to offset your circle?

The main objection, however, is the 'specified side of one of several situation', where offsetting leads to doubt as to which one is the control feature.

By the way, where do you 'centre' a control circle for the 'foot' or 'top' of a small crag? Remember, you're probably working in a vertical plane with a zero 'map' width dimension. I suggest half way 'up' it.

[Supersaint]

Not such an irrelevant comment as I'd thought. Playing CF, this is a technique I use all the time, as it saves my addled brain (CF runs 4 times as fast as real life!) from having to relate the direction on the control description to that on the map (which is oriented to the direction I'm running). Would be quite neat to use it in real life.

Maybe, but remember that 'real' orienteering isn't a computer game, and is actually quite a bit harder. I must admit to being rather good at Colin McRae Rally but doubt i'd use any of the techniques i use on there in real life.

I don't see the difficulty in looking at your descriptions during a race, they've printed them for a reason, you may as well use them - so let's stick the middle of the cirlce on the middle of the (point) feature.

[mat-d]

i agree supersaint - stick the circle to the features and let the descriptions do the talking...

[FatBoy]

Yep. Circle on the centre of the feature unless the feature is large enough to make the side hung on significantly away from the centre of the circle - e.g. wall end, side of big building etc.

In a tightly packed circle the centre should focus you to the feature rather than trying to work out if it's east most west side or west most east side - that's what descriptions are for.