Have to agree with onedotright.
I have been stupid enough to get my self in a situation where on my turn into wind the best glide would put me in to a dry stone wall!
Admitedly it was in a hang-glider but the principle is the same. Pulling on speed (controls on a flexwing are reversed compared to a 3 axis aircraft) and aiming for the wall gave me enough energy to 'zoom' over the wall and land (not very gracefully I admit) safely.
Wind gradient, however small is a big factor in such aircraft.
