doug: it is clear from your high-wind trip posts over the past year that the lower center of effort with the gaff rig really improved on the M15s already sea-kindly behavior. dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com --- On Tue, 11/23/10, Doug Kelch <doug_kelch@yahoo.com> wrote: ... The afternoon winds on Saturday were gusting to 25 mph (weatherunderground.com history) and it was a bit frustrating due to the wide wind variation in both strength and direction. 0 to 25, from the S to the NW. I spent the night near balance rock anchored in a narrow cleft with two anchors. Sunday the gusts were up to 35 mph (weatherunderground.com history) but in the canyons where I was I think they were even stronger. In the gust that made me head for cover I was down to my 25 sq ft staysail with the single reefed main backwinded about 60% and was still sailing along at a 20+ degree angle of heel. WOOOOOEEEEE! Time to head for cover so I headed dead down wind to Steam boat cove at 6 kts on the GPS. It's a good thing there were minimal waves. ... Doug Kelch M15 G "Seas the Day"