I guess that's what
you get w/15 meter ropes? Please help me understand why anyone would
ever
intentionally get (and stay!!!) only one wingspan (or less with slack)
away
from the tow plane.

Yes that is the purpose of using such short ropes, but also makes
thermalling in towed flight easier. It also makes keeping glider in the
right position when towet through the turbulent air with lots of 'ups and
downs'. Usually the 50m rope is used at the beginning of the training
prosess, and after getting the licence all the tows are done using 30m
and shorter ropes. Some time ago someone described his own experience
which happened many years ago (in '60s or '70s) at Leszno when came there
as a visitor, took a Pirat for some flying and outlanded. Then he was
towed out of a short field by an Yak-12 which's pilot incredibly
shortened the rope in order to shorten the ground roll as the forest
seemed co be too close to get over it with a 'normal' rope. )

Regards,

Janusz Kesik

visit www.leszno.pl - home of the www.css-leszno.it.pl