In article ,
Martin Hellman wrote:
at my home base (Hayward, near Oakland and SFO). The marine air in the
Bay Area kills most thermals.

You can say that again. Living on a 14nm x 30nm island, you can imagine
just how much marine air we have.

However, I have had some long soaring flights here in the Blanik. I just
bought a share in a Schleicher Ka-8 (which will happilly thermal in a
fairly tight turn at 35 knots), and I expect to be able to do my Silver
duration this summer without too much trouble :-) People often are
attracted to these hot glass ships, but forget how much fun and how good
a wooden glider soars.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"