It turns out the numbers are easier than I thought. 30-degree arc at
one mile is about 2700 feet of arc on the face of the cylinder. That's
almost 700 feet narrower than the finish gate. So the fleet is coming
in 15 degrees either side of the nominal courseline at speeds between
60 knots and 140 knots - separation of traffic not intended nor
required. Eyes on the panel. No regulation of traffic approaching,
piercing, or pulling up in the cylinder. I'm not quite getting how this
is safer, other than the fact that we're 450 feet higher (which is
still not high enough to bail out) but plenty high enough to lead to
all sorts of interesting pattern decisions.

Placebo safety. I feel safer, therefore I am safe. Doh! The notion that
this is safer is a bawd. Neaderthals, despite their thick brows and
tendency to druel (with sinful pride), at least know how to measure and
reduce risk. The Wusses though seem content to soar in ignorant bliss.
I treat the cylinder with as much or more respect as I do the finish
line. Problem is, I'm not quite sure what to do after I enter since I
have absolutely no clue what anyone else will be doing. LCD. If
everyone is ignorant, it's a no fault proposition, right?

Tell you what. For the sake of ongoing discussion, let's just say the
finish line is too dangerous for the majority of soaring pilots and
should be abolished. Let's also assume the assumption that a cylinder
finish is safe, as it is currently construed, is little more than an
exercise in optimism, but without foundation. So, how do we finish
safely, so that the majority of pilots needn't get too close to the
ground, fly too fast, nor risk impaling themselves on a competing brand
of glider?