What happened
While operating a glider, the pilot released from a tow plane at 2,000 feet AGL. Although the preflight weather briefing had forecast northeast winds consistent with prevailing trade winds, the pilot began to lose altitude immediately following release rather than gaining it as expected.
Seeking to avoid a ridge where a strong sink rate had been reported, the pilot turned north toward a practice area. However, the pilot soon realized that strong southwesterly winds were creating a significant sink rate condition. Upon determining there was insufficient altitude to return to the airport, the pilot elected to perform an off-field landing on a road located within an abandoned sugar cane plantation.
During the landing rollout, the left wing of the aircraft contacted a dirt berm. This impact caused the glider to rotate 180 degrees from its initial landing direction before coming to rest in a ditch. The pilot was not injured.