Climb vs Cruise
In general, the highest speeds are attained when you achieve the highest average climb rate for the day. So, it is very important to pick the right course, sample many thermals, select the better thermals, center quickly and climb well.
Next, the percent time climbing is also an important measure. It is, of course, directly related to the average climb rate achieved; but it is also very much affected by how much "streeting" you are able to do. Streeting can be seen in the cruising parameter in SeeYou as the L/D achieved while cruising. On a day with plenty of Cu, top pilots can achieve L/D values while cruising that are two times or more what would be expected in still air while cruising at greater than 80 mph on average.
Cruising is important. It is assumed that the pilot understands MacCready Theory and has read Wil Schuemann's papers and John Cochrane's papers which update the use of this theory.
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