My point was, the airfield arrangement is probably a much more
critical factor in landing safety than the finish type. As you put it
- it's not rocket science.

It's airmanship, actually.


Yes. I'm not rabidly for or against any finish type. If you have a
huge field, lots of surrounding places to land, no power traffic, an
assigned task, and not too many gliders, go ahead and have fun with a
line. With a restricted airport, bad surrounding terrain, many gliders
arriving from different directions, and non-contest traffic, a high
finish minimum and a circle are probably good ideas.

Part -- most? -- of airmanship though is knowing there are limits and
avoiding the situation all together. Having to do too many things at
the same time, too low and too slow eventually overcomes the abilities
of the best pilot among us. The guy who thinks "I've got great
airmanship, I can finish with 4 gliders at 50 feet and 70 knots and
all land on one runway with downwind rollers" may find himself in a
spot of trouble eventually

John Cochrane BB