BPKA (BBC) pilots in the Super Cup

[big-jon]

As some of you may know I have long wanted all pilots to be able to run in the Super Cup, this is now a real possibility, with changes to the Fed's insurance, insurers and policy wordings, the Super Cup as a Fed organisation can now accept all other insured pilots in the Super Cup, providing pilots who are non-Fed insured can provide a suitable license.

 

The question is then, do pilots/buggiers who are insured through the BPKA wish to compete in the Super Cup?

 

I know little of the BPKA's licensing procedures or ability testing, is it comparable to the Fed's pilot's license?

 

I have been told that i have little time now to try and sort this one out, if BPKA insured pilots wish to be able to run in the Super Cup or indeed if BPKA officials wish their organisation to be involved in buggy racing then I need to know.

 

I feel that if this opportunity must be acted upon and it could be a way of helping the rift between buggy 'factions' from growing into a unreachable chasm.

 

Please let me know either way, if the answer to the question is no, then that is the end of it, if it is yes I will continue my efforts.

 

Thanks

 

John Lewis - Super Cup organiser

[craig.w1599968638]

Hi Jon,

 

Im suprised a whole load of people havnt posted on here yet! as this is an oppertunity to get people working together, everyone has *****ed about having to pay twice for insurances etc for as long as i can remember.

 

that aside .....

as far as i know there is no (correct me if im wrong please!) licensing for any racing via the BPKA, there is no ability testing as such, they also havnt done any racing for as long as i can remember so im not sure if theres any structure in place for Licensing

 

I would say either go onto the BPKA forums and post about it there or drop them an email rather than post here as you will get more repsonse.

 

I will inform them about this myself just to make sure they know this thread is here and to contact you ASAP.

[spooky]

Hi, does that mean BPKA/BKSA insurance tec is now accepted by the FED, so their sites can be used??

 

Jon

[Simon Bailey]

Jon, simple answer is no. The acceptance of PKSF/BPKA insurance is only for Open events (Super Cup, etc), not general sailing.

[GaRRy]

Hi, does that mean BPKA/BKSA insurance tec is now accepted by the FED, so their sites can be used??

 

Jon

 

 

Nope just for open race events. Think this has come about as the abnomially of accepting insurance from foreign pilots but not other insurances from uk ones (especially as accept PKSF insured irish and Scots pilots)

 

As i have said many times give it time its a move in the right direction.

[spooky]

ok, thanks, just checking as you say it was an abnomially as providing the insurance offers the correct level of cover and that the super cup (and even the old PKA) events took place at FED sites etc etc.

 

Good luck, Jon

[big-jon]

I am not a member of the BPKA so I can't post on their forum, if someone could post on it and let me know any responses??

 

Thanks

[SandMonster]

I am not a member of the BPKA so I can't post on their forum, if someone could post on it and let me know any responses??

 

Thanks

Done...

[big-jon]

I would have hoped more people would be posting on here and asking questions???

 

I do need an answer soon and some more input would be good.

 

As I said though if BPKA pilots do not wish to race then I will leave it and carry on.

[SandMonster]

To be honest John, I wouldn't hold your breath as I reckon any BPKA member who wanted to race up to now would have had to join fed anyway. It's the new people who might decide to try racing between now and when the season starts who would be affected by any decision.

[carl999]

I am not a member of the BPKA so I can't post on their forum, if someone could post on it and let me know any responses??

 

Thanks

I think the BPKA would be on Flexi like a ton of bricks if things on the BPKA forum were ever posted on here

[big-jon]

I think the BPKA would be on Flexi like a ton of bricks if things on the BPKA forum were ever posted on here

 

Why? Is it that much of a closed shop???

 

Mike - I dont have that much time to wait, the insurance officer from the Fed has only given me a very small window of time to get something sorted. If I dont get anything back from people or from any senior member of the BPKA then this opportunity will be lost.

 

I had been told that the BPKA wanted to orgainse some races and get involved again in the race scene, but it does seem as if this is not the case and they do wish to keep the barriers up and stay unilateral.

[carl999]

I think the BPKA would be on Flexi like a ton of bricks if things on the BPKA forum were ever posted on here

 

Why? Is it that much of a closed shop???

 

Mike - I dont have that much time to wait, the insurance officer from the Fed has only given me a very small window of time to get something sorted. If I dont get anything back from people or from any senior member of the BPKA then this opportunity will be lost.

 

I had been told that the BPKA wanted to orgainse some races and get involved again in the race scene, but it does seem as if this is not the case and they do wish to keep the barriers up and stay unilateral.

 

Why dont you try the correct method of contacting the BPKA, try this e-mail.

Feedback@bpka.co.uk

[tigertim]

To be honest John, I wouldn't hold your breath as I reckon any BPKA member who wanted to race up to now would have had to join fed anyway. It's the new people who might decide to try racing between now and when the season starts who would be affected by any decision.

 

I Agree. Maybe if you want new pilots, there need to be licence tests taken on a roadshow type basis at the popular non-Fed, and historically non-racing, beaches.

[SandMonster]

Appreciate you have a short window of opportunity...don't know if its worth asking on other forums (forii?), or trying to get hold of any people direct... ?

[carl999]

Hi Jon,

 

Im suprised a whole load of people havnt posted on here yet! as this is an oppertunity to get people working together, everyone has *****ed about having to pay twice for insurances etc for as long as i can remember.

 

that aside .....

as far as i know there is no (correct me if im wrong please!) licensing for any racing via the BPKA, there is no ability testing as such, they also havnt done any racing for as long as i can remember so im not sure if theres any structure in place for Licensing

 

I would say either go onto the BPKA forums and post about it there or drop them an email rather than post here as you will get more repsonse.

 

I will inform them about this myself just to make sure they know this thread is here and to contact you ASAP.

Craig says it all to be honest, I did post something regarding licencing on another racing thread but I got no response, I did try though!!

Until the licencing is sorted I cant help any more, can a Fed/Pka trainer issue a licence to BPKA members, I doubt this very much.

 

Carl.

[big-jon]

CARL, MIKE - will send an email and see what happens

 

Tim - It seems as if the biggest 'club' out there does not have some sort of scheme for, what we would call, licensing. I was aksed by memebrs of the BPKA to look into starting some sort of racing that would be open to all, although this now seems to have dried up a little. There is again talk of a standard class on other threads in this forum, if something is not sorted out soon though, it will again be restricted to Fed insured people, as those who are talking about it on other threads would not make an effort to make it available for all.

[big-jon]

Craig says it all to be honest, I did post something regarding licencing on another racing thread but I got no response, I did try though!!

Until the licencing is sorted I cant help any more, can a Fed/Pka trainer issue a licence to BPKA members, I doubt this very much.

 

Carl.

 

I could not issue a Fed license to BPKA members, but what would I have to do to be able to issue a BPKA license to BPKA members?

 

If it made anything easier I would do what I needed to do, as long as it did not cost too much!? I have, in the past, offered to do all I can to make this work and again I offer my help now. All I want is for people to come together and have fun, racing is my thing and I want to organise racing for all.

[Simon Bailey]

Whilst I understand your intentions John, I feel that you could waste a lot of time chasing this.

 

I would, as has been suggested, contact the BPKA directly and give them a time limit for response. If they do not get back to you within the time frame, then they will have done a dis-service to those BPKA members that might have been interested.

 

As we know, if someone wants to do something, they will find out what the score is themselves.

 

As for the Super Cup, I think I'm correct when I say that the numbers do not need bolstering, as it's the most subscribed race series in the country. If the BPKA either fail to reply or have a bout of apathy, then the SC will continue to go from strength to strength - with or without them!

[carl999]

John, I would contact Adam Jones, BPKA Head Coach. Put your ideas to him and see what he can do, I did this for our certificates of achievement, there is nothing stopping us creating a BPKA race licence, I just aint too sure that licencing is the best way forward, I do however understand your problem, its probably a condition of the fed insurance, I could go on to other things but these forums just create wars

 

As Simon says the SC has a following which is serving the race fraternity well.

Should the BPKA wish to organise its own racing then I am also sure it will sort it out, this would not be done to compete against any other race series though, not in my book anyhow, the whole sport needs more events!!

 

Carl.

[big-jon]

I will do Carl thanks.

 

This seems to be an opportunity to allow all sides to come together and not mean that one group has to set up its 'own' as this just can create divisions which this sport does not need as there are enough already. It is not a condition of Fed insurance more a Fed policy which they are considering changing to break down divisions, if one side can do this then so can the other.

 

As people have said, if both sides do not try to make this work, then it shows a lack of responsibility and dis-service.

 

Licensing is the only way forward as it shows competency which is what land owners/insurers want as it meets duty of care.

[spooky]

Hi can I ask why there is a time limit??

IMHO as the FED are accepting non FED insurance for "open" events, should that not be just that, ie turn up to an "open" event show suitable insurance and your in etc?

 

License? Now to me this is a different matter as the license is there to ensure that competitors have a suiatable awareness/skill in racing, to stop infringements etc.

Uptill now, it has been FED licenses, but if the BPKA were to create a "Race License" that was of a suitable standard to the FED's then would a BPKA member would be able to turn up show their insurance AND race license and race

 

So yes good to hear the insurance has been accepted, but is there need for a closing window? If no one has a suitable license then they can not race, or is that to simple????

 

Am I right in understanding that this is for Racing (and the SC in particular) only? Rather than the need for a license to use FED sites, by FED members, ie a competance certificate? Only ask as just read your post where you say about "Licensing is the only way forward as it shows competency which is what land owners/insurers want as it meets duty of care." wich seems to imply that a licnes would be needed for ALL traction kiting activities rather than just racing?

 

As currently if I understand corrctly, FED members do not need a license to be members of FED clubs for normal kiting/sailing (see I use the S word lol) just for racing?

 

Good luck, Jon

[carl999]

 

Licensing is the only way forward as it shows competency which is what land owners/insurers want as it meets duty of care.

 

Not argueing but a licence is also a barrier to people taking part in sport, the government are trying to address the health of the nation by encouraging people to take part in sport, licencing is just a barrier.

 

If every sport adopted your approach we would all have been forced to take our cycling profiency tests when learning to ride a bike, I am assuming we can all ride a push bike here

 

Fed is a landyacht organisation, class 1's can travel at scary speeds, hence the licencing, kite buggies just dont do these speeds in general, when you look at the high speed days you also generally get a much quieter beach, so the risks are again minimal, then you look at a kite buggies manouvrability, again the risks are minimal.

 

The fed/pka however, have a well established international racing scene, this could be helpful in the future.

 

Carl.

[spooky]

Opps forgot to add.

I personally do not think the lack of responce to this post is due to appathy or dissinterst or even a BPKA v FED thing. Just that I would guess that those who are into racing would already be members of the FED due to the fact that AFAIK the FED are the only ones who run races (except the SC) and have access to the suitable beaches for them (which the SC needs anyway).

ie if you live near a FED beach then odds on you will have had the oppotunity to choose that route, compared to some one in land?

Just like we have a naff GB Ski team cause not many people get the oppotunity to do it

 

But good to see some progress is being made

 

BUT would have to say if work could be done to open up FED beaches, then the FED would get a whole influx of people wishing to join

 

Hows this for an idea, do what the the BKSA did for a while.

As the insurance was the same, they allowed those with what was then BBC insurance to "upgrade" to BKSA membership. So if the FED were to accept the BPKA insurance, then just pay a "top up fee" then those who were in the BPKA who lived local to FED sites could easily join, with out the ned to run 2 insurances or 2 memberships?

I know I would

 

Good luck, Jon

[big-jon]

email sent to the adress that I have been given above, I need an answer by Saturday - so the ball is now not in my court.

 

Are there any other contacts I could send it to?