Jeff, I think you will enjoy sailing Tomales Bay. I have taken my M15 there many times without problems. We used to load our tent and camping gear and sail across the bay and camp out on the beach. The only concern you will have is shallow launch ramps. All the public launch ramps have a very shallow angle of entry, which required backing in so far that my rear vehicle wheels were under water. I didn't have a tongue extention, which would have helped, so we had to back up very far into the water to get the boat to float off of the trailer. The ramps weren't very long either, so it was very difficult to launch at low tide. If you time your launch and recovery so that the tide isn't very low, you shouldn't have any trouble with an M17. There are no high land masses around the bay, so winds were relatively unimpeded by obstructions. That means that winds are usually very steady, whether strong or weak. The bay is long, and is oriented so that you can sail from end to end without tacking. All in all, a very good sailing experience. The only warning I would give is to avoid swimming there, since the water is very cold, and is also prime habitat for great white sharks. They tend to be large enough that a swimmer is a nice sized, and desirable snack...especially, if you look even remotely like a seal. Swimming with a friend doesn't decrease your odds of being eaten either, since great whites often go back for seconds. Bill I have been interested in sailing Tomales Bay with my 17. My experiences with her so far have been limited to inland lakes and the Delta. Anybody have experience at Tomales? Looks like tides may be an issue. Anything one should be aware of? I am an average sailor. Jeff