Hey guys.... after flying for several years and then taking several years off I am planning on getting back into the hobby full swing this season and compete in IMAC. I am practicing the Basic and Sportsman sequences on G3 and have 2 questions.... One is purely factual and the other an opininion question.

#1 what is the proper sequence of events to take off and begin the sequence? In other words is it take off upwind, 180 turn and begin sequence downwind or what? Is the first maneuver to be performed upwind or downwind? I am drawing a blank on what has happened at the contests I have watched and want to practice it correctly on G3 so that it will be natural when I start the real thing when I get my planes done.

#2 I have several years of experience flying and do so pretty well.... but like I mentioned havent flown in over a year and never in IMAC. Do you guys think I should fly Basic in my first contest just to get a feel for things or should I fly Sportsman if everything feels pretty good? For the time being I am practicing both sequences on G3 ... the Basic feels easy on there and the Sportsman is coming along well.

Thanks for your time!

Scott