Like so many questions in our sport, this one is hard to provide a simple black-and-white answer to. Many factors must be considered, like pilot skill, crosswind, other alternatives, etc. If you want to pay it fairly safe and the crosswind isn't too tough, you will want 10-15 feet more than the glider span. That assumes you have the skill to hold within something like 4-6 feet of the centerline in the conditions of your landing.

Of course it is possible to land safely on a lighted runway with less width.. I've done so many times using a technique of holding the wings level while moving to one side, then putting the opposite wing down. Unfortunately, I found by sad experience that this doesn't work perfectly if the runway has a high crown.

It is also possible to time your stop so that you roll past one set of lights wings level and then stop before the next. It is good to practice this technique way in advance of needing to use it by setting up cones or markers next to a wider or unlit runway. Typical spacing is 200 feet, although I've seen lots of exceptions.

And remember when the chips are down that you won't get killed hitting a runway light. It can be expensive and it certainly is rude, but it isn't lethal.

Lynn Alley
"2KA"