Originally Posted by
buzzard bait
There is a myth that had currency for awhile about making flat turns with gliders in order to lose less altitude in a turn, but in fact, it doesn't work.
Jim
Jim, as someone who has competed in a US soaring team selection finals, this was a technique I used frequently to expose as much wing to a thermal as possible. It's very useful when the thermal is quite small and would otherwise require more then 40 degree bank angle to stay in the thermal. During a dead air/sink situation you would be correct that it would lessen the sailplanes efficiency.