John: the issue of joining a gaggle of other gliders which are thermalling to
the left has already been addressed by another pilot. I would like to add
this: the airport out of which you fly has a left turn pattern. Will you
*always* fly out of that airport, and *never* out of another where the pattern
may be different? It is best to practice both right and left turns at altitude
in order to feel comfortable in either.

Cheers, Charles