I would recommend that you find a partner or two to get a
better glider. Whatever you get, make sure that it comes with
a good trailer so that it will be easier for for your ground crew
can retrieve you from your landouts.

Randy

This is VERY GOOD advice. Start in a small syndicate. That way you share the
costs round. Better ship, better clocks, better chute etc. ALSO you have a
bunch of guys who have a vested interest in retrieving you, which you may
need in your early cross country days! I had shares in two gliders
consecutively (Olympia 2b and Olympia 463) and it worked out pretty well. We
had a kind of rota for who got first go every weekend and we got along just
fine. Did my Silver height and 5 hrs in them. and then moved on to somethng
a bit more slippy for the distance.

Alistair
long retired instructor