Email that I received from another pilot, originally written by
Klaus Tanzler <klaustaenzler> and
slightly edited for grammar:

This week-end we had successfully finished our Hang Gliding German
Open 2012 and have learned something which might be of interest for the EM.

Firstly, we have learned that even with two different types of angle gauges and
different persons measuring the same glider several times we had an accuracy of
0.25 degree. But the persons were well trained and we had no wind conditions.

The fact that the former tolerance of two degrees is reduced now to one degree
did disturb some pilots. (Most of them had not read the specific information
before the comp.) There is a certain risk that after some hard landings, or
after one year shrinking of the sail, a wing might have one degree lower pitch
settings, not due to manipulation of the pilot. A lot of pilots used our
measurement service during the comp and most of them raised their setting more
or less about 1,5 degrees higher then they had before. Their former settings had
met the requirements of two degree tolerance from the previous the German Open
in 2011.

We learned also, that a manufacturer tried to claim that his new wing is an
certified wing with only minor changes made. To avoid problems in the future we
should ask the manufacturer for a letter from the test house, which states that
those changes are indeed minor and do not affect the pitch and load test result.
Our meet director did not check if certified wings have been modified in any way
other than pitch, we focused on pitch only.

Our German Open meet director refused the new Moyes Litespeed RX 3 and 3.5
because it is a new uncertified type.

Manfred Ruhmer claimed that his wing was a Z 9 with minor changes made, which do
not affect the pitch setting. After the first task his wing was measured. It was
far below the certification settings of a Z 9, so Manfred got zero points and
left the competition.

The mood of the pilots improved during the comp. But they still do not like the
fact that according to German Law the German pilots are not allowed to fly wings
in Germany which have only the HGMA certification. I am not happy about that
either. Therefore DHV offers cost free pitch tests for gliders with HGMA or BHPA
certification just to get the paper work in line with the German law
requirements, which demands a certification by a LBA (German Aviation Authority)
recognised test house. (HGMA and BHPA have not tried yet to get the recognition
of the LBA. The DHV pitch test results of HGMA or BHPA certified wings are
usually positive.

The DHV board of directors will discuss this unfortunate situation again in the
next DHV meeting. But this problem affects only German pilots in Germany.
Foreign pilots are allowed to fly their wings in Germany when they are allowed
to fly in their home countries. Anyway, this problem will not affect the EM.

All in all the outcome of the German Open was positive. We had a safe and fair
comp.

It is thought that EM refers to the European Championships.