Safety of winch launch vrs. aero tow?

Gary,
I suspect you are considering winch launching for your club and I would think
the biggest problem would be in getting club members, "Up to Speed" on winch
operations.

In way of illustrating my point, allow me to tell a little story about a local
soaring operation that is no longer in business. This outfit advertised, get
your "Aero-Tow Only" restriction, removed from your glider licence. Come to XXX
Soaring and we will check you out in about an hour, or so. This outfit had a
2-33 with only a nose tow hook (mistake no. 1) They didn't use radios (mistake
no. 2) The flight examiner weighed a good 300 lb. + your average student at 200
lb. = 500 lb's in the 2-33 (mistake no. 3)

I was going to take the course, but had to wait for the student in front of me
to get his check-out. The signal for "Start the launch" was, level the wings
and flash the lights in the car located near the right wing tip. It went
something like this:

1. Level the wings & flash the lights------------Glider rolled about 10 feet
and stopped. winch operator stalled the winch.

2. Level the wings & flash the lights---------- Cable went, but glider didn't
move. In the last attempt, wheel had rolled over cable and caused a reverse
release.

3.Level the wings & flash the lights---------------Glider went about 100 feet
and stopped. Cable had "Kinked" in previous 2 attempts and then broke at a
kink.

-------------30 minute delay while Nico-Press & sleves are found and cable is
spliced. With 3 attempts and no success, student is having second thoughts and
opens canopy and starts to climb out. Instructor tells him, everything will be
fine, this time, Get back in here.

4. Level the wings & flash the lights------------ Glider takes off, to the wild
applause of all those assembled. Glider only gets 400 feet due to nose tow hook
location. Glider makes a 90 right and a 180 left, lands and rolls right up to
the starting point.

Attempts 5, 6 & 7 come off without a hitch and the Flight Examiner is called
out (300 lbs)

Level the wings & flash the lights-------------- Glider takes off, but only
gets 300 feet, makes a modified 90/180 and plunks it down hard, way down the
runway.

I took this opportunity to silently disappear and my licence still reads,
Aero-Tow Only.
JJ Sinclair