"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
(snip)
IMHO, the best thermalling performance for your glider can
be found by flying against another glider, not by cranking
numbers. Nonetheless, Jud's article sheds some new light on
why I seem to find the best performance when flying slower
than min sink for my bank angle.


I agree with Todd. The best way to learn how to make your glider climb well
is by flying in gaggles with other gliders, especially during contests. You
will find out what works pretty quickly, and the best pilots are usually
willing to talk to you (after the contest!) to help you improve. Reading
charts and doing the math helps a lot with understanding "how things work",
and this was a very good article and well worth the read. To learn how to
really make a glider climb, however, you need to go fly one, preferably far
from home, where it really matters.

BTW, real world thermals are not usually like the model!
-Bob Korves