Choosing Your Start Gate Wisely
Clearly, the start gate that is closest to the line is the best one to use. The shortest distance makes sense. Problem solved, go there.
If it was only that easy. It might be the shortest distance but it could come with a lot of disadvantages. Sometimes the best start gate to use is one that is farthest away from the course line. In an hour you are not going to be concerned with being 1/2 mile off course line. Unless of course, you are Ingo Renner, in which case you can drive straight on course line and not deviate at all. Check out one of his OLC flights, I know nothing of this flight, only that it jives with what I have read about for those that had the honor to be coached by him.
For the rest of us, we are probably going to be miles off course line at some point. With some planning, we will stay on the upwind side too. So do not worry about the first 5 min, you have 4 hours to screw it up.
Some more considerations to think about when choosing your start is not just distance from the course line. It would probably be a good idea to be on the upwind side of the line too. You might need to start trying to climb a few miles upwind of the start so you can be at altitude by the time you get there.
What about if there is a dead area coming in? Maybe you start out of one you hadn't considered before the sky shuts down. You might need to run around it and get back into the good air and wait for the good air to move back into the start cylinders.
Where is everyone else? There is safety in numbers, but they're also might be better air, they might be seeing something that you have not figured out yet. If Sabastian Kawa is hanging out at a particular start point...I would stay there too. It could however be a moment of Lemmings and nobody wants to think for themselves. In which case it might be faster with less.
You also need to predict the future. You want to be in the best place in XX minutes when you are planning on starting. Also, what will have the best line of energy on the first leg in XX minutes. It will not do you any good if in 5 miles you are not going to be in the best place possible. You need to think down the course line and what is going to get you the best advantage in the best air.
Plan as far as you can see, just like you would on course, use that same decision-making process for determining which start you want to take.
Photo: Mika Ganszauge
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.
