-----Original Message----- From: George Iemmolo [mailto:griemmolo2@gamil.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 10:53 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Turning Turtle Robert PTL all went well you & the boat survived. You were wearing your life preserver right. Good advise regarding drop boards. I was wondering regarding your reefing sequence. I have always reefed the Main prior to dropping the Jib. Do you have roller reefing & had reduced the jib area that way? George (83 yr) Merry Helen II 96 M15 #602 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Robert Hall Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 6:16 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Turning Turtle Hello All,Unfortunately at 1600 today while sailing alone in blustery wind on the Ottawa River with a reefed jib and full main I learned the answer to a question many of us have asked ourselves." If knocked down, will the M 15 continue heeling and finally turn turtle?" The answer "yes". In my case when the gust hit there was no time to steer off, cast off sheets or to take any other remedial action.I was in the water . Possibly had the drop boards been in place the disaster might have been lessened, but I do not know.Any way over I went with both sails set. Fortunately fellow boaters arrived within half an hour and two of us righted the boat as one would a dinghy,bailed a little and got towed back to our club. Drying out will take a while and the teasing will take even longer to fade. This 84 year old has come safely through a nasty experience and henceforth will at least keep the drop boards in place when sailing in gusty weather. A word to the wise.Cheers . RTH.