Sharing a thermal

"Hal" wrote in message
om...
Still learning to benefit from thermalling with another glider and so
far have not realized the benefits. If you are opposite another
glider and observing your progress in relationship to the other glider
how do you adjust your path if you see the other glider in better
lift?

Use the other glider as a "zero time constant vario". When you are opposite
the other glider and his climb is at the greatest, reduce your bank to swing
wide on the opposite side of the thermal then tighten up again. Learn to
control airspeed by sound and use an audio vario so you can keep your eyes
on the other glider.

Reducing bank angle from 45 deg to 30 degree will double your turn diameter.
If you resume a 45 degree bank after 180 degrees of turn, you will have
moved the circle center one diameter toward the stronger lift. This gentle
correction will let you keep the other glider in sight.

He should follow your move to stay opposite.

I seem to have the biggest problem at the top of the thermal
when the other glider has flattened out the bank angle and seems to
stay in better lift.

I have the same problem. I think they are just better than I am. I avoid
the problem by leaving the thermal before reaching the top pretending I am
using the stronger lift band.

Bill Daniels