Introduction
The IHPA Grid Challenge has been inspired by the Parlick Grid Challenge in the Pennines and the Dodd Grid Challenge in the Dales.
We have created waypoint files for 3 well known flying sites around Ireland: Mt. Leinster, Inagh Valley and The Galtees. The waypoints are laid out in a grid formation with each point 1km apart and surrounded by a scoring cylinder of radius 400m. On top of each grid we have created a Track which joins the dots together and forms the challenge.
To get on the leaderboard, simply visit as many cylinders as possible along the track line in the correct order (in a single flight) and send your igc file to IHPA Secretary David May (see the Contacts webpage.) Your score will be the highest number of consecutive cylinders along the track line that you pass through. You must start/end in the indicated cylinders and record at least one gps point inside each track cylinder in the correct order for it to count. You can attempt each track in either direction - see the individual tabs for more details.
Note: where scores are equal, the most recent flight is highest. So if someone equals your score... they're beating you until you can do that score again... or better.
The IHPA Grid Challange is an ongoing challenge with no time limits and no closing date and is open to anyone - you do not need to be a member of the IHPA to participate. Just download the waypoint file for each flying site from the following tab-pages, upload them to your flight computer/gps, add the described task and... good luck!
Apart from being great fun, the purpose of the IHPA Grid Challenge is to give pilots a chance to practice using their instruments, in particular their GPS - how to load a waypoint file, add a task and then successfully follow a task.
See below for a description of how to create a grid. If you would like to create your own, or add a new track to an existing grid please send your suggestions to IHPA Secretary David May with the new waypoint files (if you are creating a whole new grid) or a list of waypoints from an existing task (if you wish to add a new task to an existing grid) and a description of why you think it would be a good addition to the Grid Challenge.
Creating a Grid Challenge
1. Pick a site
2. Create the grid of waypoints
3. Add the cylinders
4. Add the task
Mt. Leinster
The Mt. Leinster Grid Challenge (MLGC1)
The concept is simple, take off and then try to achieve at least one tracklog point in each cylinder in the specified order. To start with we have created a track that includes just 9 of the 20 waypoints but, depending on feedback from those who attempt the challenge we can modify or add further tracks. The cylinders closer to the hill can probably be achieved with dynamic lift alone but those further out from the hill will need some thermal assistance.
Waypoints are 1km apart and all cylinders have a radius of 400m. You may start from either the Nine Stones (ML02) or the Westerly Car Park (ML09) and your end cylinder must be the same as your start cylinder. You can follow the track in either direction which gives 4 possible tracks:
Starting at Nine Stones
ML02, ML03, ML04, ML07, ML10, ML06, ML01, ML05, ML09, ML02
ML02, ML09, ML05, ML01, ML06, ML10, ML07, ML04, ML03, ML02
Starting at Westerly Car Park
ML09, ML02, ML03, ML04, ML07, ML10, ML06, ML01, ML05, ML09
ML09, ML05, ML01, ML06, ML10, ML07, ML04, ML03, ML02, ML09
Download the waypoints using the links below (right-click and select "Save target as" or "Save link as"):
Note: once you have loaded the appropriate waypoint file to your GPS you will then need to create the track (or task). If you are unsure how to do this check your GPS manual for instructions.
Use GPS babelfish to convert formats if required: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/gpsbabel_convert
By downloading the waypoints pilots acknowledge that the decision to participate in the challenge, take off and fly, and responsibility for judging whether flying conditions are suitable, is entirely their own.
Leaderboard for Mt. Leinster:
Date Pilot Name HG/PG Wing Points Scored Link to Tracklog
Inagh Valley
The Inagh Valley Grid Challenge (IVGC1)
The concept is simple, take off and try to achieve at least one tracklog point in each cylinder in the specified order. Waypoints are 1km apart and all cylinders have a radius of 400m. The start/end cylinder (IV07) is above the Inagh Valley launch site and you can follow the track in either direction which gives 2 possible tracks:
Inagh Valley Tracks: ~20km
IV07, IV10, IV13, IV16, IV19, IV22, IV25, IV28, IV31, IV34, IV37, IV38, IV34, IV32, IV28, IV26, IV23, IV19, IV17, IV14, IV11, IV07
IV07, IV11, IV14, IV17, IV19, IV23, IV26, IV28, IV32, IV34, IV38, IV37, IV34, IV31, IV28, IV25, IV22, IV19, IV16, IV13, IV10, IV07
Download the waypoints below (right-click and select "Save target as" or "Save link as"):
Note: once you have loaded the appropriate waypoint file to your GPS you will then need to create the track (or task). If you are unsure how to do this check your GPS manual for instructions.
Use GPS babelfish to convert formats if required: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/gpsbabel_convert
By downloading the waypoints pilots acknowledge that the decision to participate in the challenge, take off and fly, and responsibility for judging whether flying conditions are suitable, is entirely their own.
Leaderboard for Inagh Valley:
Date Pilot Name HG/PG Wing Points Scored Link to Tracklog
Galty Mts.
The Galty Mts. Grid Challange
We have not provided a track for the Galtees. Instead we have left it open to you to suggest a track challenge for this site. Simply send your suggested track to IHPA Secretary David May as a list of waypoints. The start and end cylinder do not need to be the same, nor does the start cylinder need to be over launch. The level of difficulty should be such that the first group of points are relatively easy, more than likely achievable with dynamic soaring alone and the later points increasing in difficulty and requiring a degree of height management and thermal assistance.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Download the waypoints below (right-click and select "Save target as" or "Save link as"):
Use GPS babelfish to convert formats if required: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/gpsbabel_convert
By downloading the waypoints pilots acknowledge that the decision to participate in the challenge, take off and fly, and responsibility for judging whether flying conditions are suitable, is entirely their own.
Leaderboard for Galty Mts:
Date Pilot Name HG/PG Wing Points Scored Link to Tracklog
