On Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:35:45 AM UTC-5, Chris Rollings wrote:
If you are gliding from one thermal to another, optimum speed is the same
whether you are going into wind, downwind or no wind, it just depends on
the rate of climb achieved in the next thermal. If you are gliding to a
point on the ground, final glide or round a turn-point, then optimum speed
will be higher into wind than downwind.

This is true from an optimal speed perspective. Kawa and Brigliodori's point (I think) has to do with increasing search range. Flying faster upwind and slower downwind increases your search range. Also, if you've ever looked at a graph for flying slightly faster or slower than optimum MC bumping up or down one know has very little effect on total speed. Finding a better thermal (or a thermal at all) would make you faster or keep you from going Aux Vauche...

Thoughts?

2C