Dragon Hike and Fly 2023 Rules
Dragon Hike and Fly 2023
Concept
A hike and fly adventure race lasting just two days! It will start and end in the Crickhowell/Cwmdu area, or another local village – as dictated by the weather.
Key dates
Briefing on the evening of 12th and race on the 13th and 14th May. There will be a fall back weekend of 10th and 11th of June if the first weekend is considered to be untaskable by the race director.
The Arena
The task is flexible and will depend on wind and weather conditions. The goal will most likely be in Cwmdu.
The rules
At the briefing turn points will be selected by the Race Director depending on weather forecasts and have to be reached in order from the start.
How?
Only two ways of travelling are allowed, by flying with your glider or by foot, carrying it! The race timings will be approx 0800 – 2000 on the Saturday and 0700 – 1600 on the Sunday, although this will be confirmed at the briefing. The competitor can be followed and supported by an assistant, although this is not mandatory.
Why?
This is a gathering of like-minded pilots in the Hike and Fly format. This race is inspired by the famous Red Bull X Alps but the rules and timing make it much more accessible. For those pilots who are not necessarily competition minded, an introduction to this short format will give them the boost necessary to start in their adventure of Hike and Fly.
1. ORGANISATION
1.1. Organiser and race director (RD)
The Organiser is Crickhowell Paragliding Limited and The Race Director is Alistair Andrews.
1.2. Hike and Fly conditions The pilots are responsible for making decisions regarding walking and flying routes; This analysis must be at the forefront of their minds at all times and any decision to take off should be made with full consideration of the pilot’s own ability and the prevailing weather conditions.
1.3. Situation in the event of postponement or cancellation
If weather conditions look to be particularly unfavourable, the race organiser reserves the right to reschedule the start of the race. Equally, they can stop the race at any time during the task. In this case, pilots will be advised by SMS and Telegram. In the event of postponement of the race from the first weekend, the race will be moved to the back up weekend. Entries will be valid for both weekends.
In the event of both weekends being cancelled, there will be no refund of entry fees. As mentioned in 7.7, the director will attempt to make a third weekend available before 15th September, but this will likely be planned at short notice.
2. PILOTS
2.1 General conditions of participation – Be aged over 18 years – Be certified BHPA pilot rated, or suitably experienced at the Race Director’s discretion. – Have a Dual License if flying tandem.
Pilots have personal accident insurance. Crickhowell Paragliding Limited or it’s directors accept no liability for any accident or personal injury to competitors or supporters during the event. Entry will be confirmed upon payment and receipt of completed registration on LT24. A maximum of 60 entries will be accepted.
2.1.1 The organiser reserves the right to reject and refund any entry.
2.2 Rules of the race
– The pilot must carry their flying equipment at all times
– The pilot is only allowed one set of equipment for the race. In case of damage and after application to the organiser, the pilot may be allowed to change equipment.
– The pilot must fly in conditions suitable to their level of skill and fatigue. They are responsible for his own decisions.
2.3 Rules of travel
– Pilots are only allowed to travel on foot or by air, any other form of movement is prohibited i.e. swimming or climbing.
– The Country Code must be respected.
2.4 Flying rules
– Violation of controlled airspace will result in the immediate disqualification of the pilot.
– The pilot must be able to provide a trace or GPS Live Tracking of all hiking and flights.
– This track must be a valid IGC file with one second intervals in the air, and one minute intervals on the ground. In the event that a track, or part of a track, cannot be produced, the pilot should expect to be disqualified.
– Pilots must have a Livetrack 24 account, and on completion of payment, sign up at the event page. They must ensure they are producing a continuous live track log during the race with a maximum of 20 second interval tracking. Use of another live tracking unit is acceptable, but the pilot must still carry a charged mobile phone throughout the event. Certain waypoints may require a “selfie” photo to ensure that pilots are keeping their phones charged.
– Pilots will obey air law, and as this is a competition – cloud flying is forbidden.
2.5 Application of penalties
The organiser reserves the right to give penalties according to the severity and intent behind any cheating. All pilots who are suspected of cheating may expect a penalty, if not serious, or for more serious offence – disqualification. A penalty may also be given in the case that the organiser thinks the conduct of the pilot was dangerous for their safety (ie flying in strong winds or thunderstorms). This penalty may be applied during the race or later after verification of the tracks.
3. ASSISTANTS
3.1 How?
Each pilot may have an assistant. An assistant can support any number of pilots during the race. The assistant must perform the following tasks:
3.2 Role and tasks
The assistant is responsible for the logistics and strategy of the race for his pilot(s). He cannot carry their equipment specified later in these rules. If he did, it would end in the disqualification of the pilot. He is also the link between the organiser and the pilot, He must regularly advise the position and condition of his pilot(s) to update the organiser. He must arrange meeting points with the organisers and relay any safety information. He calls for rescue in the event of pilot difficulty. If the pilot needs care or is injured then the assistant must contact the organiser.
3.3 Availability of the assistant
The assistant must be contactable during the race by mobile phone. In order to communicate with pilots, the organiser will go through the assistant (or direct to the pilot if no assistant is used).
3.4 Media
Assistant or the pilot should send the organisers news as and when possible. This news can be sent via Telegram or E-mail and be in the form of a few lines of information about the pilot (text, thoughts, strategic choices …) and or photos / video.
4. REGISTRATION
4.1. How to register
Register your entry at http://crickhowellparagliding.com/dragon-hike-and-fly-race-2023/ any questions can be forwarded to alistair@crickhowellparagliding.com
4.2. Registration fees
The entry fee will be £80.
The entry fee includes: Task Organisation – Safety Management – Contribution to prize fund – End of race party.
4.5. The safety reporting
All registered pilots or their assistants must, by SMS or Telegram no later than 30 minutes after the finish of the race on Saturday with location in dd.dddd format and a short update of the pilot’s condition. This will prevent the organisers from needlessly launching SAR Ops. The absence of a safety report will be considered a serious rule infringement resulting in the disqualification of the pilot. Procedure for pilot withdrawal: If a pilot wishes to withdraw from the race, they must immediately inform the organisers who will then remove them from the pilot list.
4.6 Deadline / Race Timing
Race times will be confirmed at the briefing.
4.7 Emergencies
Upon landing, the pilot must pack up immediately. An unfolded paraglider means: “I NEED HELP”. A pilot flying near a pilot in difficulty should give assistance or warn other pilots and the organiser ASAP. Any assistance given will be rewarded in kind by the organiser. Any pilot who assists an injured pilot will be given an advantage when they are able to rejoin the race. Police must be notified on 999 and the race organiser will decide whether or not it is appropriate to continue the event.
4.8 The ranking
– Each pilot should have at least one tracking point in each cylinder.
– In case of non-validation of the turn point, the pilot must return to the missed point in order to progress.
– The final ranking will be in the order of arrival of the pilots at the ESS. The winner is the one who has completed the course the most quickly.
– In case no pilot makes it around the entire route, the ranking will be based on the remaining distance to reach the goal. The distance will be taken if the pilot is on the ground or in the air at the deadline.
– A provisional classification will be available at the end of the race, pending checks of all pilot track logs.
4.9 Doping
Any doping is strictly prohibited.
4.10 Respect for the environment
Each pilot and assistant must leave no trace of their passage over the ground and respect the environment in which they operate. If pilots are caught dropping litter they will be disqualified. There will be a prize for the pilot or assistant who collects the most rubbish during the event!
5. FLIGHT EQUIPMENT
5.1. Mandatory Flying Equipment
Competitors are responsible for their equipment choice and must fly a “load tested” ie. EN926-1 certified paraglider.
Whether flying or hiking, the following must be carried:
Rucksack – Reserve parachute (within cerified limits) – Helmet. – Mobile phone charged and turned on – GPS – Paraglider – EN or LTF Certified Back Protection – Survival kit (blanket, lamp) – Map(s) All of this equipment must be in possession of the pilot at all times during the race. The race committee may inspect the equipment at any time.
It is not possible to change the flying equipment, except in cases of damage to the equipment declared with permission of the race organiser.
5.2 Strongly recommended hardware
– Gloves, telescopic poles, extra clothes, compass, knife, sunscreen, first aid kit, VHF Radio.
5.3 Live Tracking
Pilots must carry a live tracking device with a Livetrack 24 account setup to the race event page. They must produce a continuous live track during the race with a maximum tracking interval of 20 seconds. They must inform the organisers of their Livetrack 24 and if using them, InReach, Spot, etc ID. They must have sufficient battery power to track the entire race.
All pilots and assistants must install and become familiar with the Telegram Mobile App as this will be used for most tracking, comms and pilot monitoring by the organisers.
5.4 GPS
Each pilot is responsible for his GPS and batteries. GPS: The GPS trace format IGC UTM WGS84 format, must be provided to the organisers for evidence
of the journey made by the pilot. The supplied GPS track must be at least: – 1 point every second in the air – 1 point every 200 m on the ground Each pilot must provide the appropriate cables for unloading their traces to the PC.
6. COURSE
6.1 The itinerary:
The course is completed by hiking or flying through the turn points defined in the briefing by the race director. The route will be selected based on aesthetic considerations and weather over a distance of around 50 – 100km.
6.2 The Turnpoints:
To be considered tagged, TPs must be passed within the radius given at the briefing. The list of TPs will be given during the pilot briefing by the Race Director. Each pilot must be able to enter GPS coordinates in their GPS units.
7. CANCELLATION
7.1 If any entrant would like to withdraw their entry from the race, they may do so up to 30 days before the race and will receive a 50% refund of the entry fee.
7.2 If any entrant wishes to withdraw their entry within 30 days of the race there will be no refund given.
7.3 If you cannot attend the event because of pregnancy, military deployment, or other special case, you should contact the organiser and they will decide on a case by case basis if you will be refunded. Such requests must be made more than 14 days before the start of the race.
7.4 All entrants accept that if any pre-published back up dates are used, then the above rules still apply with regard to refunds.
7.5 If the event is cancelled due to an “act of god”, disaster, government/paragliding club mandated land or airspace closures or for untaskable weather, then there will be no refunds of entry or party fee.
7.6 If neither weekend is considered taskable by the race director. He will attempt to have a third potential race weekend, planned at short notice, sometime before 15th Sep 2021.