Hi Bob,

Actually, the maneuver I described is not that efficient.  You’re right that a fast racer will plan the final glide so well that he won’t have enough energy to do the fast high energy pull-up.  One fellow that I knew (that won more often than not) planned final glides so closely that he usually landed and rolled across the finish line.  That’s cutting it too close for me, and besides, the high energy finish was much more fun.

Hal

Thanks Hal,

I appreciate your comments on glider racing.  I do recall dumping water at end of race and diving low for the finish line.  Very stretegic tactics to be successful in that sport. You can lose by waisting too much time thermaling and have more altitude than necessary for the end run. etc. I would assume you should manage potential energy so that you have efficiently used it up at the finish line.

Bob Smiley
N94RJ

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Hal Woodruff
Swefco Packaging, Inc.
Phone: (909) 986-0499
Fax:   (909) 983-5920
email: woodruff@swefco.com