Hi John- I'd also like to welcome you to the group; I know at least some of your kayaks as there are several around here (Sacramento) that have been home built. Great-looking boats.
Many thanks for the kind words, Jerry, and everyone else. I have a wealth of small boats, but they all need work or tinkering in one way or the other. I suspect I'll use the M-15 more than any other, because it'll be low maintenance and poised on its trailer, ready to sail.
You are in luck with the Windmill jibs. I know the Windmill altho there are few on the West Coast; it's a lighter, narrower Snipe with a little more sail area if my memory serves me. Isn't the designer's name Scott Mills?
The Windmill's rig is identical to the Snipe, but although it's the same length overall the Windmill weighs less than half what a Snipe does. Planes like a bobsled. Clark Mills was the designer of the Windmill. He's most famous for the Optimist Pram, but he also designed some of the Com-Pac line of pocket cruisers. He died just two months ago, alas.
I don't know if the Windmill has a chute, but if it does it should also work. I used an old 470 chute >for years on a 15.
Like the Snipe, the Windmill is a non-spinnaker class. Always one of the attractions to me.
Sail the 15 with the mast raked back enough to load up the helm a little.
Good to know. I'll tinker with it. My new mainsail is about 5% larger than the stock M-15 sail. I had them put in a full-batten up top, like a 470 (or Potter 15, for that matter). That should help a bit in light air. I also had them put in two reef points, as it's slow, unfun, and unseamanlike to sail on your ear. Cheers, John Chesapeake Light Craft The Best Boats You Can Build http://www.clcboats.com