(2) enter the date of the flight in MMDD format. For example, if
your flight was on June 3, you enter 0603.
(3) Enter the file name with the flight data. It must be in IGC format
(if it is in another format, use a software program to export it as
an IGC file). Any flight in the IGC format will be accepted, regardless
of what logger or GPS was used to log the flight. No security checking
is performed.
(4) Enter your tow release time and landing time, in HHMMSS format.
This is taken directly from the IGC file, and must be in UTC timezone.
You may have to look at the data file, or use a program like SeeYou
to find these points.
For example, if your release was at 193546, enter this string of numbers
just as they are (this is 19:35:46 UTC = 1:35:46 PM Central Standard Time).
Both of these times are needed for the optimizer to know when to
credit flight distance. Automatic figuring of these times is impractical.
For example, one may release directly into wave without losing altitude
or without circling off tow. Similarly, you may be stationary in wave
without climbing or sinking, which some programs interpret as a landing!
Or you might have left your logger on after th flight, and it records your
car drive up/down some mountain roads.
(5) Click the SUBMIT button. In a few seconds, the output from the
optimizer program will be displayed. An e-mail will be sent to the
1-26 Sweepstakes Sheriff notifying of your fight.
In general, the program will accept data files which are partially
corupted, either gaps in the log, or obviously incorrect data
(e.g. a data point on the equator). The altitude data is not
analyzed at all, so it should work equally well with Garmin-logger flights.