my understanding is that insurance requirements haven't changed. The
SSA has notified us though that some insurance policies are available
that don't meet the requirements so buyer beware.

Sorry for flying my low performance glider at the regionals but its
what I have and is what I will fly. After beating Frank Paynter on
Day 3 at Region 10 by 14 points I offered to trade him the Cherokee
for his Ventus for the remainder of the contest. He declined. If
there was that great of an advantage to flying a high handicap glider,
more people would show up with 1-26's instead of ASW-27's. However if
you still believe that having a high handicap is a great advantage I
can probably figure out a way to get you plans for the Cherokee II.

Fear of getting beat (by anyone) seems like a lousy reason to not go
to a glider contest. If that was the case only about 4 people would
show up to most contests.

It was my impression that the tasking at the regional i went to was
satisfactory to everyone involved. The circles were large thanks to
gliders ranging from my Cherokee to Dave Coggins' Nimbus. If a pilot
felt we weren't flying far enough each day it was his own fault, IMO.
The weather was very consistent throughout the entire region which
definitely helped. My experience is a very small slice of the contest
world though, so I'm rather pollyanna-ish about the subject.

I am looking forward to the day I can get a club class glider though.
In the meantime I will have a lot of fun flying sports class in my
Cherokee.