On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 21:22:42 -0400, "Slick" wrote:

Well here's what happened. I came up and entered with the grob, I was in the
1-26. I tried to talk to the grob, but he wasnt responding, he's notorious
for not talking on the radio. I knew he saw me, we had a close call where he
left the thermal then re-entered next to me.

Ignoring what made him leave the thermal... When he re-entered then it
was really his responsibility to take up a safe position.

Here's a same-level entry technique that was described to me by one of
our best pilots. Approach the thermal so you end up circling outside
the glider at your level and at thermalling speed. It will move away
from you because its inside. When you're behind it, tighten your turn
to match its turn radius and you'll find yourself more or less on the
opposite side of the thermal and circling with him. I've used it and
it works for me too.

From then on, adjust your turn to stay opposite - open a little if
you're catching up and vice versa. NEVER point directly at another
glider in the thermal. This way should leave the slower glider turning
tighter. BTW, nobody climbs as well or flies as smoothly in a gaggle
as they do by themselves.

This may not work on the USA due to different customs, but in the UK
we often wave at the other glider. This shows that you see him and
when he waves back you know he's seen you. Consider leaving if you
don't get that acknowledgement or if you don't see his head turning!

Finally, when you leave the thermal, check to the outside and then
make a definite move out - roll out straight when you're pointing the
way you want to go, while putting the nose down and accelerating -
this is a positive indication to others that you're leaving AND gets
you away from the gaggle fairly quickly. Don't just wander out by
opening your turn because this is confusuing to those staying in the
thermal: are you really leaving or are you just looking for a better
thermal core?

I used all of these techniques during my recent first competition
without complaints from other pilots and without any close calls
resulting from them.

HTH

Martin

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :