Sailplane Contest Strategies & Tactics

I figured this forum would be a great spot to ask some of the advanced
contest pilots about their personel strategies & tactics they use to
win. I've watched a fine week of soaring, masters of the wave, read
Winning on the Wind, cross country soaring by reichman, New Soaring
Pilot and a couple other books. All had some great advice in it.

I've also watched alot of contests on SeeYou soaring software by
downloading the flights off the ssa server. I saw a few instances
where a well respected pilot started, had a group follow him, then
turned back went through the start gate again and let the group that
was following him lead him to a couple thermals before he blew past
them and he won the day.

Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

On Jan 18, 7:34*am, Scott Alexander
wrote:

Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

Don't get hurt, and don't break the glider.

Other than that, try to get into the spirit of things, be gracious,
and have a good time while you figure out what strategies and tactics
work to your strengths.

Thanks, Bob K.

On Jan 18, 8:34*am, Scott Alexander
wrote:
I figured this forum would be a great spot to ask some of the advanced
contest pilots about their personel strategies & tactics they use to
win. *

If you are a novice contest pilot you may be better off asking for
advice for appropriate for novices.

While the best contest pilots may start as late as possible, jump all
the gaggles of slower pilots, and then get home first, it may not work
for you.

A novice pilot starting late may not catch up with anyone and will
most likely be landing out because there was not enough day left to
complete the task at the best speed he could fly.

I don't know what your experience level is but if you are really new
to contest flying I'd suggest starting early, running with the fast
guys as long as you can after they catch you, and then making your own
way home after they leave you in their dust.

In the days when we ran start lines it was common practice to start,
find the first thermal, wait for others to come and mark it, and then
sneak back to start again. With the high start altitudes of GPS
cylinder starts the first thermal is not so important but people will
sometimes still try to lure markers out on course by calling a start
they have no intention of using. More likely though is that a fast
pilot will start alone and leave the start call as late as possible so
he won't be followed.

Andy

On Jan 18, 8:38*am, Andy wrote:
On Jan 18, 8:34*am, Scott Alexander
wrote:

I figured this forum would be a great spot to ask some of the advanced
contest pilots about their personel strategies & tactics they use to
win. *

If you are a novice contest pilot you may be better off asking for
advice for appropriate for novices.

Before you fly your first day get out and practice some of the
following within glide distance of home - or known good airports:

- Lay out actual tasks and fly them like you are racing
- Practice using (on the ground and in flight) whatever glide computer
you intend to use
- Enter and core thermals in 2 turns or less
- Thermal at 45 degrees of bank consistently
- Thermal with other gliders - a lot of other gliders when you get
comfortable with it
- Circle as little as possible while not getting low by finding the
lift lines. On a good day you should be able to spend 20% or less of
your time climbing and achieve cruise L/Ds greater than your glider's
best L/D despite cruising much faster than best glide speed
- Only stop for the best lift and leave thermals when they taper off
- Make low saves - find the best thermal you can after passing below
2,000' agl and take it up high enough to get to a good thermal (i.e.
not to the top), then go find a good thermal - sometimes you can do
this in one shot, often not - time wasted in weak lift is a speed
killer
- Cylinder starts - out the side, out the top
- Final glides to 1,000' and one mile - get used to the techniques and
angles

In the actual contest, be conservative and try to fly with others by
leading out relatively early. Keep airports dialed in as alternates.
Focus on getting home each day.

9B

On Jan 18, 10:34*am, Scott Alexander
wrote:
I figured this forum would be a great spot to ask some of the advanced
contest pilots about their personel strategies & tactics they use to
win. *I've watched a fine week of soaring, masters of the wave, read
Winning on the Wind, cross country soaring by reichman, New Soaring
Pilot and a couple other books. *All had some great advice in it.

I've also watched alot of contests on SeeYou soaring software by
downloading the flights off the ssa server. *I saw a few instances
where a well respected pilot started, had a group follow him, then
turned back went through the start gate again and let the group that
was following him lead him to a couple thermals before he blew past
them and he won the day.

Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

The best advice I can give is to stop worrying about what the other
guys are going to do and make decisions for yourself.
Watch how the weather is developing and go when you think it's right
while allowing enought time to get around the course with a stumble or
2. If the "fast guys" catch you shortly after the start, you probably
hit it about right.
A beginner can't play start gate roulette like the experienced guys
and likel;y will put too much attention into that instead of more
important stuff like reading the weather outlook and the sky ahead.
Good Luck
UH

Follow 9B.

On 18 Jan, 15:34, Scott Alexander
wrote:


Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

Get high. Stay high. Finish.

On Jan 18, 5:28*pm, jimboffin wrote:
On 18 Jan, 15:34, Scott Alexander
wrote:



Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

Get high. Stay high. Finish.

I teach:
Get high
Fly fast
Leave clean underware
Don't make Junk.
Seems to work.
UH
It's

On Jan 18, 10:34*am, Scott Alexander
wrote:
I figured this forum would be a great spot to ask some of the advanced
contest pilots about their personel strategies & tactics they use to
win. *I've watched a fine week of soaring, masters of the wave, read
Winning on the Wind, cross country soaring by reichman, New Soaring
Pilot and a couple other books. *All had some great advice in it.

I've also watched alot of contests on SeeYou soaring software by
downloading the flights off the ssa server. *I saw a few instances
where a well respected pilot started, had a group follow him, then
turned back went through the start gate again and let the group that
was following him lead him to a couple thermals before he blew past
them and he won the day.

Anyone want to chime in on some good contest strategies or tactics?

I collect Chinese cookie fortunes, stuff them in my wallet next to my
license. Here's my top five, Letterman style:

5. You constantly struggle for self-improvement.

4. You will be fortunate in everything you put your hands to.

3. Get your mind set... Confidence will lead you on.

2. Your courage is like a kite, big wind raises it higher.

1. It's better to be approximately right than precisely wrong.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

PS: "Leave clean underwear & don't make junk" are going on my 2010
checklist. Priceless!

I collect Chinese cookie fortunes, stuff them in my wallet next to my
license. *Here's my top five, Letterman style:

5. *You constantly struggle for self-improvement.

4. *You will be fortunate in everything you put your hands to.

3. *Get your mind set... Confidence will lead you on.

2. *Your courage is like a kite, big wind raises it higher.

1. *It's better to be approximately right than precisely wrong.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

PS: "Leave clean underwear & don't make junk" are going on my 2010
checklist. *Priceless!

I got a better one. This is a true story, chinese food on the way to a
big gliding trip (hang gliding at the time)

"Travel by road or rail"

It turned out to be oh, so true, but that's a long story

John Cochrane BB