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"