On Friday, May 10, 2013 8:42:39 AM UTC-6, Peter F wrote:
Don is right in thinking that there should be one person in charge of the launch.

Unfortunately the person he thinks should be in charge is at the wrong end of the cable.

You are correct, it's much better to have the pilot control airspeed with pitch. However, for this to happen, the winch has to control rope tension accurately as a percentage of glider weight. Control is divided where pilot controls airspeed and winch controls tension. This means Gary is right to control rope tension with his payout winch.