I enjoy this picture very much. I think my case is knowing how to sail but not
having a boat that was up to winds like this. A question. Do you crawl up on
the foredeck to carry on your jibs? It doesn't look very safe. Can you do
foredeck work standing in the fore hatch? Or do you have some kind of dowhaul
or tack release that lets you switch jibs while working in the cockpit, so that
you never go on the foredeck at all? It seemed to me the easiest way in heavy
weather would be standing in the forehatch, but what's your take? I realize you
no longer own the boat. But were you just daysailing and setting the boat up
ashore or did you ever do sail changes offshore, and if so how? Mainsail
reefing on this boat looks like a snap, although on sloops one has to work
fast. ED> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 22:21:42 -0500> To:
[email protected]> Subject: M_Boats: Re: M17 heavy weather
capabilities> > Just a personal note on the heavy weather capabilities of an
M17. > > If you check out the pictures of the M17 "Thompson" on the
MSOGphotosite > you'll see a picture of her beating to windward in 30+ knots in
a race here in > Havasu a couple of years ago. >
_http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps11.jpg_
(http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps11.jpg) > > I had sold the
boat to my buddy Jason after acquiring our M23 and was > crewing for him during
the race. We were reefed down with a small working jib up > and the boat was
doing great. In fact, many of the much larger boats in the race > had already
dropped all sail, retired and were heading in under power. We > finished the
race and then sailed her home! Can the M17 handle heavy weather? > Yes, I think
so, but I also read a comment that I think rings very true. > MUCH depends on
the crew, and this is not just for an M17 but for any boat. If > you want to
sail in heavy winds you need to work up to it and learn how your > boat needs
to be set-up to be able to handle those winds under control. I used > to be
very nervous about getting caught in heavy winds. And eventually, if > you keep
ratcheting up the wind-speed, any crew or boat is going to reach it's > comfort
level where sailing switches from being fun and safe, to scary and > out of
control. But, I have learned that if I set the boat up properly (1 reef, > 2
reefs, storm sail, working jib, whatever) for the conditions, I am amazed > at
the conditions that I am able to go out and sail in comfortably. Jo and I >
have built up to sailing in 30 knots incrementally. Just my opinion, but to >
do it safe it takes the skill and experience of the crew, the proper equipment
> (if you can't tuck a reef safely quickly and properly, or make a headsail >
change to the correct size headsail for the conditions, it's not going to >
work),and a capable boat. I can speak personally for the M17 and M23, they are
> CAPABLE boats! I love my Monty!> > > > **************Start the year off
right. Easy ways to stay in shape. >
http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489>
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