There is a paradox though. If spins are prohibited
with water ballast
how can a pilot know how the glider will behave. All
my deliberate
spin attempts in the 19 and 28 were dry, but nearly
all of my flying
is with ballast.


For my own sake, I generally go through a standard
general handling/stall/spin exercise for any new type
I fly. I tend also to get myself briefed/debriefed
with several other pilots opinions, who I know have
flown those types. When I did my conversion to flapped
gliders on the BGA DG, I specifically asked about spinning
flapped gliders, which was in itself an interesting
experience. When it came to flying the LS6, for which
I did the conversion for, I went through my usual routine,
with out water ballast. With my weigh I could fly it
fully tanked up, but to me common sence said that I
should not go and spin it in this configuration, rather
fly the thing at the correct speed all the time.

The reason I decided upon was simply to do with the
fact that ballast does load the glider further, it
increases the stresses on the airframe, it increases
the already impressive accelleration, so why would
I want to find out how it spins like when I know how
to prevent it from ever occuring in the first place.


Would you also want to practice landing a glider full
up with ballast as well?

I personally view my reasonably frequent stall/spin
exercises I give myself, not so much to prove I can
still instinctivly recover from them, but to remind
myself why I fly at the correct speed and attitude
for any given condition.