Don't want to get off topic - as a beginner in the Sport of Sailplane contests, but a veteran of competitive sports - this whole "Leeching" thing - such a ugly word.

So if one of the best pilots as described above (KS) passes me and I try to stay with him - that's a bad thing?? (as if I could). Wow, there are allot of sports with leeches, running, car racing, sailboats racing...... as a matter of fact it is hard to think of one that you do and don't try to follow the best person.

FLARM on the other hand - I can under stand that when a glider gets so far away that you can't see them - and this technology allows you to do what your eyes can not - that seems to me to be unfair and unwanted. Especially since vision (both eyesight and the ability to interpret what we see) is a important aspect of our sport.

I chatted with some experienced guys - they all seem to agree - have a Flarm and set it to 50 miles so you know where everyone is........ works well to make you go faster, but is wrong. and I thought when I bought my Flarm it was to keep from bumping into other gliders and to avoid them bumping into me - I do not need to see gliders much further than a mile or two or three to accomplish that.

Stealth seemed to make sense in a contest - just like not allowing your crew to look at SPOT and call you to tell you which way to go.

I hope I am not a future "Leecher" but man if I can stay with Karl someday , now that would be impressive

WH