In article ,
Stefan wrote:

Let me add the standard procedure that I was told and that all pilots
I know of are using:
Extend the airbrakes (carefully - only about one inch) to get the

Try this in a Janus. Extending isn't a problem, but I wish you luck
closing them again during the tow. Chances are that after successfully
closing them, slack is much bigger than before.

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. We've got:

1) a Janus
2) 1000 ft high ridges
3) frequent strong winds onto the ridges
4) airspace limitations restricting us to, say, 2500 ft in some
of the places the ridges take us.

So I've spent a fair amount of time flying the Janus at 90 - 100 knots
and needing some brake to stop from busting the altitude limit. It's
not a problem.

See, for example:

http://www.hoult.org/bruce/gliding/sasha/p17.html

Someone previously asked if I always fly around with the brakes half
open. Yes, on days like that, in that area.

-- Bruce