Paul,

First and foremost, I was not "proud" of the flight I showed you, and I'm
disappointed (in fact, a little shocked) that you took it that way. Maybe I
should work on my presentation a little (I know it can be a little eager
sometimes). I learn from my experiences (positive and negative) by being
honest and open about them, not by pretending they didn't happen, and this
was no different (if I couldn't take the slings and arrows, I'd just keep
everything to myself). I had already told two other highly experienced
pilots (GY and AZ2) that I wondered at the time if I'd made the right
decisions. That isn't pride; it's concern about wanting to do it better
next time.

When I made my statement "My glider doesn't spin", you quickly (and
appropriately) noted that they were the famous last words of many a dead
pilot. I immediately recognized the ridiculousness of my statement and
offered you an honest correction: I haven't been able to get *my* glider to
spin (which is certainly not to say that it can't happen). Now, we can
argue about the relative safety value of that attitude, but I was
maintaining minimum 58 knots AIS, much higher than my normal dry thermaling
speed, so the stall/spin risk at that point was no higher than at any point
in any normal landing pattern.

(My CFIGs were very good at instilling in me the importance of maintaining
airspeed close to the ground. I have read all the stories about pilots
flying low, looking at the ground and thinking they have lots of airspeed,
and learning the hard way they didn't, and of pilots flying low over
mountains and getting bit by wind sheer. Not for a second am I so proud to
think that these things can't happen to me.)

The IGC file shows the lowest point on my downwind leg at 310'. I was up to
400' when I turned onto base. (There is a big difference between 300' and
400'.) At 58 knots AIS, 4 knots up, no traffic anywhere, and no wind, I
simply continued the turn as I had started it. If it turned into sink, there
was still plenty of altitude to finish the turn and land. Did I make the
right decision? I will eagerly absorb any and all constructive feedback I
get on that question, positive and negative (the "you-stupid-idiot" lectures
some people so enjoy giving are more entertaining than they are useful).

As far as I'm concerned, the most glaring mistake I made was allowing myself
to get into the position of being at 300' AGL halfway through my downwind
leg. Now *that* was dumb, and I need no feedback on that count.

About the mountain flying: at no point in my flight was I not within easy
gliding distance of at least two safe landing areas (one dirt strip and one
airport). If you had a question about that, I wish you would have asked. If
there's anything I consistently do right in my flying, it's staying within
safe distance of good landing areas (see previous paragraph); I always have
the nearest landing spot dialed in on my flight computer, maintaining a
positive arrival at MC 3. I am particularly satisfied with this aspect of
my x/c flying -- I can even call myself "proud" on this count, though it
usually puts a damper on my contest speeds

Paul, the next time I say something that scares you silly, just call me on
it, *especially* if it looks like my pride is in the way. I have a
tremoundous amount of respect for the feedback I get from guys like you and
GY and you will NOT hurt my feelings by speaking up in person.

That I promise, my friend --

-ted

P.s. At the time of the flight I had 232 hours total time in the glider and
340 total PIC.