In article . com,
"Tony" wrote:

Why is it gliders have such long slender wings? Would longer chords
give as effective lift to drag ratios at typical sailplane speeds, is
the wingspan just a more effective way of finding small thermals? My
first thought was a long wing would induce more drag at the many edges,
but clearly that's wrong.

What you are referring to is aspect ratio, narrow cord and long wings.