I came the closest to getting the mast horizontal when I got hit with a gust while the boat was nearly stationary. I believe that if you are moving, the boat will heel to a certain point and then round up. If you are a sitting duck, well, you're a sitting duck! Bill Riker M-15 #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Richard Cottrell Sent: May 19, 2003 5:56 PM To: Montgomery Boats Subject: 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"