I've sailed a 15 in Mexico in several days of 30+ stuff; the first day was downwind, with a reefed main and storm jib, in fact we had a spinnaker up until it got up to about 20 and the 15 handled it beautifully, in fact better than a 17 would under the same conditions. After that most of the sailing was upwind and reaching; we got rounded up a few times but a good time was had by all except for my ex, who was the only other soul on the boat! Remember that we were loaded up for enough stuff for a week, and everything was properly stowed, which means on the bottom of the hull. The 15 went very well in those conditions, in fact we overtook an old Balboa 26 out in the middle of the Gulf, but it had really trashy sails and a pretty crusty bottom. The people on the boat seemed really upset that we passed them to weather in 3 to 4 foot chop, with maybe a few 5' waves and just glared at us. Oh well. I remember that there were two young couples in the buff- pretty interesting if you ask me, and had a definate lack of tan lines.
Yes, we were wet. Jerry jerrymontgomery.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arnold Sharpe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 12:28 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: worst conditions to take an m15 > You gave an excellent answer to the question and correct (in my > humble opinion). Among the variables of course is the waterway > involved (lake, sea or open ocean). Given that a properly equipped > M-15 sailed to Hawaii several years ago and others have taken similar > open Ocean voyages it really comes down to the proper equipment and > sailing experience. . I don't know what conditions the M-15 (LITTLE > BREEZE) experienced on it's Hawaii crossing but I know from personal > experience in a 24ft Frisco Flyer and a 31ft Ketch that Trade Wind > sailing regularly encounters force 4-5 conditions and often encounters > winds up to almost 30 knots (Beaufort scale conditions 5-6 ) . While > the ocean can look pretty scary and forbidding from the deck of a small > sailboat in force 5 (average 19 knots) conditions, few experiences > in life (again in my opinion) can rival running off the wind in 20+ > knots of warm trades under a brilliant sun in crystal blue water. > This contrasts dramatically however with the exact same wind and sea > conditions while hove to or running from a blow in cold rainy northern > climes....one of the many variables to the question. > If an M-15 is built anything like my M-17 (and I believe it is) I > would think it could handle force 4-6 conditions but again if properly > handled and equiped. In 20 knots , Beaufort 4-5, I believe an M-15 > would be running off the wind with perhaps a small jib only and would > taking a bit of water over the stern at times and would need an > experienced and alert helmsman to avoid a broach. Much more wind and > she would be running under bare poles and perhaps dragging some warps > to keep her stern in the wind. The truth is, the boat can take a whole > lot more than the crew. > Get a copy of Bowditch and look at the pictures of sea state > conditions....don't look at anything above force 7 to avoid a pit in > your stomach. > Kind regards and good sailing...Arnold > On Aug 27, 2007, at 7:33 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > That my friend, is an impossible question to answer.Thee single most > > important safety item aboard during rough weather sailing is a > > knowledgable experienced captain.Battened down and with properly > > shortened sails, these 15's will take more than most of us EVER want to > > be out in.There can be no definative answer as there are simply too > > many > > variables...namely 'who's at the helm' > > > > _______________________________________________ > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/961 - Release Date: 8/19/2007 7:27 AM > > _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
