On May 12, 7:39*am, Mike the Strike wrote:
On May 12, 7:20*am, Andy wrote:



On May 11, 10:32*pm, Tim Taylor wrote:

On May 11, 9:20*pm, Tuno wrote:

I forwarded that hilarious youtube Hitler-as-CD video to my brother,
who several questions later asked me why we have to turn to the left
in the start cylinder but have to turn right when releasing from tow.

I did not have an answer to that question. But I sure hope that I wake
up one day and find out one of the two sets of rules has changed!

~ted/2NO

Ted,

Historically we turned right after release from tow so that is why we
do it in a contest still. *The left turns come from the days of
cameras pointed at your left wing tip, you had to turn left around the
turn-point so the rule was set that everyone would turn left to avoid
conflicts.

"All left turners leave the room".

That's True Tim. *So the question now is - is there any provision
still in the rules for use of cameras in a contest? *If not, why not
turn right in the cylinders? I sometimes amuse myself at contests
observing whether pilots even give lip service to a right turn off
tow. Most give a feint to the right then turn hard left to try to
catch the thermal they just flew through.

9B

As far as I'm aware, the right turn off tow is a North American
practice. *Everywhere else turns left.

Don't ask me why. *Perhaps the same reason Americans drive on the
wrong side of the road?

Mike

I figured only make the contest pilots change thermalling direction
rather than every US glider pilot change direction off tow. It's a
nit, but I'll pick it.

9B