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"