looking for advice on lead n follow flights

Although they were in thermal conditions and so not directly comparable to wave, when I was a pupil on lead and follow courses, at different stages in my flying, with 2 top pilots the main aim was that the pupil should experience the same air as the teacher at as close to the same time as possible so that we could understand why the leader responded the way that he did - for better and for worse. To that end we flew in close (really close) line astern formation. In one course we also took turns at leading and justifying our decisions at debriefing. I think it is essential to experience and analyse the consequences of wrong decisions (hopefully a minority) as well as right ones.

On Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 3:57:36 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Although they were in thermal conditions and so not directly comparable to wave, when I was a pupil on lead and follow courses, at different stages in my flying, with 2 top pilots the main aim was that the pupil should experience the same air as the teacher at as close to the same time as possible so that we could understand why the leader responded the way that he did - for better and for worse. To that end we flew in close (really close) line astern formation. In one course we also took turns at leading and justifying our decisions at debriefing. I think it is essential to experience and analyse the consequences of wrong decisions (hopefully a minority) as well as right ones.

- With "really close formation" how did you (1) prevent running into each other and (2) accommodate differences in glider performance? Note that if you slow down to handle (1) you end up higher (2).

My "really close" isn't so close that running into each other would be a danger - but as close as we could. If someone dropped lower they would generally catch up in the next climb. If necessary the teacher dropped down to guide them up. The teacher in one case had the lowest performance glider - in the other marginally the highest and used the air brakes to keep down to our level.

One of the aspects that has only been briefly discussed:

The follower must follow! If they feel that they need "just a couple more turns" in the thermal and the leader has headed ou, They will be left behind in a hurry.

I have usually asked the "follower" to lead out and then I can trail or move abeam to discuss the next option(s).

I also have a plan discussed with the follower about the general direction of the task legs and what the bail-out procedure is. If the day is long enough you can do a short course and bring them back to the field for them to try is on their own.

MB