Well springtime has hit LA (lower Alabama). After a day of doing income tax (yes i put it off) the weather was just too fine. A cold front was moving in, no cold weather just wind. I dropped Sweet Dream in the water and motored out. It took three tries to get the main up with a steady 15 out of the NE, and gusts up to 20. Lost the main halyard twice. Finally sailing, So thats what an M-15 feels like at hull speed. WeeHaa! (My rebel yell) I crossed the ship channel (about 2.5 miles in just over 30 minutes. The waves were building in the middle bay and I needed to take a reef. I pointed her into the wind and managed to get the main reefed but couldnt get to the boom end long enough to tighten the topping lift for more twist. Headed back in on the starboard tack with a 15 degree heel. The waves would tip her over to 25 degrees at times. Gusts up to 25 now, screaming in the rigging. She wants to head up bad. I really needed a second reef but Elliott-Pattison didn't provide one as stock. (a trip to the local sailmaker is on my agenda). Had to dump the main several times when the heel went over 30 degrees. Thought about dropping the main and just sailing with the working jib but I needed to point high to make the channel. I sailed right into the river hoping for a lull to let me drop the sails. finally found one, the surrounding power boats couldn't make out what the chinese fire drill was about, I had to keep running back to the tiller as the wind rounded from different points. An autopilot is on my wish list right after the 150 Genny. I've got a lot of confidence now in the M-15's ability to really handle a blow but an extra hand at the tiller and some extra meat on the rail would have helped. Spring is here for the fortunate M-boaters in the south and can't be far away for the rest. Fair winds all. Tomorrow's another day.