The pre start gaggles - 2W

To have a reasonable chance at the WGC especially on a blue day you pretty much have to stay with the gaggle, prefferably the fast one.  After the gate opened we climbed to 5500 feet and then descended to 4500 feet three or four times.  I decided that continuing the cycle another two or three times surrounded by 30 other gliders would be sheer lunacy and went on course alone.  The score sheet speaks volumes; the gaggle is much faster, but is it what flying sailplanes is about?

Luke