Jesse: It was a blustery afternoon. Winds would vary from 10-18 knots. I haven't a clue as to the speed of the blast that knocked me over. Wendell Spence was with the Potter Yachters. I understand it was really windy Saturday evening. They had pulled out before I started sailing at noon. Jesse Tate <gunsblazing@charter.net> wrote:Rich, Do you know how much wind you were in when all the "fun" happened? Jesse M 15 #343Carolyn J----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Cottrell To: Montgomery Boats Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 4:55 PMSubject: M_Boats: knockdown Wendell: It was good to meet another M15 owner yesterday at Woodward Resevoir. I went out with a heavy 26 sf storm jib and one reef in the main. Most the time I felt a little under canvassed except for occasional really strong gusts. I sailed to the dam to the windward race bouy to observe the Hobie race. While at the dam, the wind died completey. I assumed the next gust would come from the dirction of the dam, which was only a couple hundred yards from me. A second later I was over with my face in the water holding on to the lifelines. It was a sudden huge blast which I think came out of the east. It held me down until I could release the mainsheet and the wind eased a bit. Three to four inches of water came in the cockpit and another three inches in the port locker, which I hadn't secured in case I needed to get to the anchor quickly. One of the Hobies turtled. The water didn't begin to drain from the cockpit until I got well under way, again. I now feel initiated. This was my first knockdown in 7 years of sailing an M15. It was as if there wasn't any ballast below. Believe me, it was no more than one or two seconds from the time I was upright unil I was over on my side. I should have known better and released the jib and main sheets once it became still and so quiet. The M15 is self-righting!!!! Good news, indeed. Sailing an M15 is lots of fun and safe to single-hand by smarter sailers than me. I'm gratefull to have installed lifelines. Can't wait to go sailings Soon! Rich Cottrell, "Really" --------------------------------- _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats