On Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:52:35 AM UTC-7, Roy B. wrote:
Peter:
". . . while flying an unwieldy lump"

Thank you for that phrase - I will use it often in the future!

For what it is worth, the fully developed spin in the Nimbus 3 is not uncomfortable. The rotation rate is quite slow, the pitch changes not dramatic, and the recovery is reasonably positive. I've about 600 hours in two different N3s. I have never done the spin with water and agree that is the territory for test pilots.

ROY

I did a quarter turn in a spin in a fully ballasted Nimbus 4 (not on purpose), stood on opposite rudder, put stick against forward stop and the glider recovered in a quarter turn, without much altitude loss, everything seemed in slow motion with those big wings and all up weight, no problem. I do have significant time in a Nimbus 4D and thought it flew very different and not as pleasant to me as the single seat Nimbus 4. However, two seat flying is the best!