all the items you outline, Smiley, will work to set the shape of an M15's main ... if you have the correct hardware on the boat. because there is no back-stay it is very important to keep main sheet tension when going to weather. if you don't keep main sheet tension the mast will bend forward and the jib's will bag. sail the 15 with both main and jib. the boat will not sail well to weather under jib or main alone. as the wind increases reef the main as significant luffing of the main will make the jib's shape poor (that main sheet tension) and depending on conditions make the boat heal more. :: Dave Scobie :: Former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 - SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com :: Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.us --- On Sat, 4/2/11, Karen and Smiley <magoo252@comcast.net> wrote:
Daniel,
Thanks for sharing your video, It has me all pumped up about getting my M 15 from Stan Froseth soon. I do have questions for you and the gallery here. I noticed that you did not tension the main sail down haul taught enough for up wind sailing? Is there a down haul on the M15 or did you not have enough purchase to get the wrinkles off the mast luff? Additionally and maybe it was the point of sail you were on it seemed like the outhaul did not have much room to be tensioned. I guess the general question comes into play about sail trim, I know what we like about the M 15 is its simplicity but surely a flatter main sail would assist in going to weather and pointing higher. I really thank you all for the sail trim input and just can't wait to see for myself how to trim this boat up and what she does in all kinds of wind. Thanks Smiley
Smiley and Karen