RULES:  FAI FREE FLIGHT AMERICA'S CUP 2009
Dec. 14, 2008                                               

The purpose of the America's Cup Competition is to foster the development of flyers and models across North America in the FAI F1 (free flight). This coast-to-coast competition requires flyers to attend multiple contests each year in the United States and Canada in order to win.  To this end the Southern California Aero Team has formulated the following rules:

1)  America’s Cup designated contests must be flown in accordance with the provisions of the FAI Sporting Code and as follows:

a) F1A, B and C Contests must be a minimum of 7 rounds plus flyoffs if required.   First round max durations should require the current extended flight times as stated in the FAI Sporting Code.  F1G, H and J contests must fly a minimum of 5 rounds plus flyoffs if required. The F1A, B, C, G, H, J and P events must have discreet rounds and must be flown from a launch line. F1Q and F1E are flown as provisional events and may deviate for the standard FAI rules such as they may be flown jointly with other events, not in rounds not from a line etc.  In the case of deteriorating weather or for safety reasons, contests can be terminated after 5 rounds, and the Contest Director must provide the situation description.  The CD must also indicate which round max durations were shortened from those stated in the FAI Sporting Code

b) For F1A, B, and C, contests flown over two days must have 7 rounds minimum (exception as above), and scoring will be based on total rounds flown.  Contest Directors are urged to configure and conduct contest rounds to best allow 7 rounds plus flyoffs to be completed.

c) A $30 US America’s Cup Contest Sanction Fee is requested on or before April 1 of the current schedule year and required by the end of the year.  Acceptable forms of payment are Money Orders or Checks made out to SCAT and sent to the address below.  Non-payment will result in the removal of the contest from the following year’s schedule. 

d) The maximum number of America’s Cup contest is 30. The SCAT America’s Cup Administrator will recommend changes to designated contests to the SCAT Club after careful consultation with contest organizers and FAI competitors in the USA and Canada.  The preferred method of making changes to the designated contests is for the active clubs and participants in the affected region to submit the recommended changes. Contests that do not maintain a three year running average of F1ABCGHJand P total entry of 15 for 2 consecutive years will be subject to deletion. Prior to deletion, offers will be sought for contests to fill the deleted contest. New contests will be granted Conditional Status for their first year on the Calendar, based on their adherence to FAI rules as reported by organizers and contestants to the AmCup Administrator.  Points scored at Conditional Contests are fully counted. 

e) For any AmCup contest that is rescheduled or cancelled a 30-day advanced notice is recommended and a 15-day notice is required. In the event of a known rescheduling or cancellation, the organizer must make a good faith effort at widespread notification, such as a message posted on SCAT Electronic News (SEN).  In the case of unforeseen circumstances, rescheduling after contest registration as begun, a new contest date shall be announced to all those that have registered via a public verbal announcement, e-mail and / or phone calls followed by a public announcement such as SEN. Special attention shall be made to avoid conflict with other AmCup contests in that region.

f) Contestant eligibility is restricted to residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico.   The residency of a person means the place where a person lives for at least 185 days prior to the start of the America’s Cup cycle for which they desire eligibility. This residency is based on employment status and/or personal ties; in the case of a person not working in North America, a close link between that person and the place where they live must be demonstrated. New residents must contact the Administrator to establish eligibility. Other foreign competitors are not considered in the quantity of entries or in the individual scores.

2) Any number of Designated Contests can be entered and at any contest site.

3) The highest scores from a maximum of four contests will be counted.

4) The total score may include two scores from one site only; all other scores must come from different sites, that is, the scores must come from at least three sites.  Points are scored a follows:

            1st Place                       25 points

            2nd Place                      20 points

            3rd Place                      15 points

            4th Place                      10 points

            5th Place                        5 points

5) Extra "Bonus" points are scored on the number of contestants in an event:

            1 - 5                             0 points

            6 - 8                             +1 point

            9 - 11                            +2 points

            12 - 14                          +3 points

            15 - 17                          +4 points

            18 or more                    +5 points  

6) Contest ties must be settled, or else the competitors receive the lowest score possible.  For example, if three tie for first place and the ties are not settled, then each of the three receives the third place score (15 points).  If two tie for fourth place and no settlement, each receives 5 points.  If five or more max out with no flyoffs, then each receives 5 points.  Bonus points are added to the above scores.

Contest ties are to be broken in a sporting manner, in which the event’s models are flown.  A single “flyoff” flight or the results of a future contest are the preferred methods for tiebreakers.  The sportsmen are responsible for arranging a suitable tiebreaker.  The results of the tiebreaker are to be documented in writing (e-mail), and agreed upon by the participants.  If attempts at breaking the tie are ultimately unsuccessful, the America’s Cup Committee is responsible for adjudication.  Ties must be broken within 60 days of the contest or by the conclusion of the first AmCup contest of the following year, whichever is sooner, or the scores will remain as ties with the lower score recorded.

7) Ties for first place in the final scoring are settled by counting 5 contests in totals or more if necessary, Rule 4 not used.  If this does not settle a tie, then taking the scores from the five best contests and multiplying by the total number of contestants in the 5 contests in the competitor’s event determines the winner.

8) For contests with fewer than 5 entrants, full points will be awarded as per Rule 5.  In the case of only one entrant, 25 points will be awarded only if all other conditions of these rules are met; the contestant must fly in a sportsman-like manner.

9)  'Entry' means - made at least one official flight.

10) Points are scored on the calendar year basis.  The America's Cups 1st place perpetual awards (F1A,B,C,G,H,J) and 1st place trophies will be awarded at a banquet on Saturday night of the Max Men 14 Round International Contest in California.  Also, certificates for the first five places and for Junior High Point will be awarded. S.C.A.T. will pay for the Cups to be shipped to the winners who are unable to attend. However, it is the responsibility of the winners to have their names engraved on the placard and return the Cups to the America's Cup Administrator in time for the next Awards Banquet.  If Cups must be shipped, it is the responsibility of the winners to insure the America’s Cups for $400.00 US.

11) Contest Directors or FAI Event Sponsors are required to send full contest results. Please include all contestants, all round scores with indication of all FAI Junior scores and any non-AmCup entries in each event to Jim Parker, preferably in Excel format via email within two weeks of the event.  Plain text, WORD, RTF electronic formats or Paper copies will be accepted. Contest results with the above information should also be sent to SCAT Electronic News (SEN).

Jim Parker                                                                 SCAT Electronic News (SEN)
9524 Ruffner  Ave                                                          <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
North Hills, CA  91343
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