For most UK European and international comps IGC files
are posted, grab as many files of the top 3 places
and stick them in you flight analysis software and
start analysing

the consensus of most articles from top comp pilots
i have read is the climb rate is more important than
the cruise speed, so cruise at sensible speeds to have
the range to find better thermals

the maths i have seen says reducing your cruise speed
for a given climb rate only has a small effect on your
theoretical xc speed, which can easily be made up if
you pick better themals

I fly club class non competition in the UK, 3000 -
4500 2-4kt would cover most xc days, thermals might
go 2kt 2kt 4kt, you go go faster by reaching the 4kt,
to fast and your groveling or in a field

there also seems to be a drift towards stable cruise
speeds rather than chasing M/C

Pete

At 18:54 07 February 2008, Frank wrote:
I'm curious what others are using for inter-thermal
cruise speeds for
modern 15m (and 18m I guess) gliders like the Ventus
2bx, Ventus 2cx,
ASW-27, ASG-29, Diana 2, etc (add models as necessary).

Here in the U.S. we have been moving toward cruise
speeds much lower
than would normally be dictated by using straight McReady
settings,
but how low is too low?

I've also been flying a V2bx & V2cxt in Condor a lot,
and cruise
speeds there are all over the map, from 90kt to 125kt
(fully
ballasted) in the same race/weather conditions, with
varying results.

Any thoughts?

TIA,

Frank (TA)