Surprised there aren't more replies to this. The fastest way through the
air (and hence over the ground) is to fly MacCready cruise speed for the
actual climb rate. Assuming you can achieve a faster speed on the ridge
than the thermal phase of the flight, then climb until at the correct
MacCready speed you can reach the ridge at or above the top. (Halfway up if
you are feeling brave, but with a downwind middle leg, a little safety
height won't make much difference.

At 15:57 17 November 2013, Waveguru wrote:
I've got a FAI triangle set up where 2 of the legs are on ridges and the
3rd leg will be a down wind leg. Will it be fastest to climb in a thermal
to just high enough to fly back to the ridge at min. sink, or would it be
faster to thermal higher and fly back faster? Would I set the MacCready
setting to the climb I'm achieving in the thermal or what?

Boggs