From what have observed, the effect is more the opposite. First, it makes it the good tactic to start and stay with the group as much as possible. Then the objective is to be the high guy in the last thermal. Beat everybody home and you win.

It is remarkably hard to beat a fast gaggle, but very easy to be soundly beaten by it.

As for the start, if you are in the wrong place and low, you're pretty much hosed unless you have a remarkable flight.

It does have the favorable characteristic of eliminating the painful game of trying to out wait the group so as to start last in the gaggle.

The attraction , and a very real one for some(many?), is the sense of racing because the pilot sees the other gliders he is competing with.

Another view

UH

I think UH is right about strategy under grand prix rules, when beating the other guy by an inch is the same as by a mile. Then the right strategy is like a sailboat race. In the grand prix I watched, I was interested that they didn't do this as much as I thought.

But that's less obvious if we start a regular US race this way -- a time-limited task, TAT or MAT, with a group of gliders with different handicaps, out of a 5 mile start cylinder, and with cumulative 1000 point scoring.

Now leaving a cautious gaggle and piling on the miles is a good strategy. And the gaggle is less likely to stick together anyway.

Still, this is theory until we try it, and I hope we can try a few next year.

John Cochrane