•  Reduces the load that glider structures must support  during landing and rollout. The performance advantage of water ballast during strong  soaring conditions is considerable. However, there is a down  side. The pilot should be aware that water ballast degrades  takeoff performance, climb rate, and low-speed handling.  Before committing to a launch with water ballast aboard,  the pilot should review operating limitations to ensure that  safety of flight is not compromised. 5-16