>>
>>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.