What is the general rule for flying near clouds in glider flight?

Maintaining visual contact with ground references is crucial for safety in glider flight, especially when near clouds. When flying in the vicinity of clouds, glider pilots must ensure they can see the ground to avoid becoming disoriented. Visual references help in maintaining situational awareness and navigation, which is particularly important since gliders rely on visual cues for both lift and safe flight conditions. Additionally, flying too close to clouds can lead to inadvertent entry, which poses risks due to loss of visual references and potential turbulence or reduced visibility inside the cloud.

Other options may suggest strategies that are less safe; for example, flying as close as possible to clouds could lead to encountering adverse weather conditions or turbulence. Entering clouds for better lift is generally discouraged in glider flying because it can obscure vision and lead to unintentional flight into cloud cover, which is not safe for a glider pilot. Lastly, using clouds as navigation points, while occasionally useful for visual orientation, should not replace maintaining visibility of the ground reference, which is vital for safe operational practices in glider sailing.