In article ,
Chris OCallaghan wrote:
I'd always assumed there were two factors in choosing a pattern speed.
First, safety, thus the +5 for turbulence. The other was to place the
glider at best speed to fly. That way if you have to put the spoilers
away, you are guaranteed to cover the maximum distance. If I recall,
the simple formula for best speed was best l/d speed plus 1/2 the
headwind. Don't recall the second ever being explained though. Just
seemed to fit.

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/hansonr/soaring/spd2fly/

was really useful for me. It sort of drove home the
1/2 headwind idea as being close enough, and was useful for
deciding 30-45 deg of bank was fine for rope breaks.
But look at it yourself. Of course the 2-33 data is in
there, provided by yours truly

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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA