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Thank you all very much for the helpful advice, hints and tips. As it happened, my mainsheet was laid over the throttle lever to be close at hand, but as I was on a broad reach and she was sailing relatively upright [for the conditions] at around 15 - 20 degrees, I was relaxing a little and enjoying the express train ride, although when I had been beating earlier she was on her ear, well off my scale, which stops at 35 degrees, and I was luffing quite a lot of the time to bring her more upright.

Sometimes the best way to learn is to go out in challenging conditions, but to sail as safely as possible, it certainly gives you confidence in the boat and you learn the little foibles and what you can get away with and what you can't.

Thanks again to you all for the trouble you've taken.

Newell wrote:A tit-tat point that has nothing to do with the question, but M's have a daggerboard not a CB. Mast rake on X's has been a heavily discussed topic but haven't heard so much about on the M. My X mast is almost vertical and as I have a cabintop traveler I often am not near the mainsheet but have found I can steer through 90 percent of windgusts without problem. I applaud you for reefing, something I rarely do but often regret.

Newell

To each is own, but I've always been taught to always have the main sheet line in hand or in reach, unless you have the main sheet assigned to a capable crew member; then I would make sure he/she can hear me shout out 'dump the main now!

Jim,
My days of heeling over 20 degrees is over.
I slack off my main sheet when gusts heel me 20 degrees and usually beat to windward heel 10-15 degrees. Boat also performs much better and makes less leeway.
I suppose if I had my old buddies back sailing with me and a bottle of Jim Bean I probably do the 30-40 degrees getting the rail down and watching things fly off the shelves and table for some fun.
Dave

c130king wrote:Kitcat,

How much were you heeling? This could be a key indicator to prevent future roundups. I find I start to RU around 38 +\- degrees. Thus I get ready to spill some wind...ease the main sheet...when I get over 30 degrees. I just make sure my hand and the sheet don't get too far away from each other.

And if I am easily hitting 30 then it is definitely time to get in the reef. And if i hit 35 I will roll in almost half my 150 genny.

And finally I try to avoid being too close to expensive things...like other boats...if I am heeling very much at all.

Good luck.

Jim

Hamin' X wrote: Also, bartmac's advice is spot on. what he is referring to is, mast rake. If it is to much aft, you will experience weather helm. If you are having to turn the wheel to leeward when you heel 10-20 degrees, you have too much mast rake. A mild weather helm is desirable and will cause you to round-up, before you capsize.

~Rich

I will second this advice. Having your rig prpoerly tuned with the right amount of mast rake is paramount to good boat control. I have very little weather helm on my rig and she sails with no hands on the wheel when the sails are set right with the wind, she balances nicely. I have done a freinds boat similar to mine and his sails nice too. You have to get the mast rake almost perpendicular to the boat and the shrouds/forestay perfectly tight. When all is done your boat will handle with ease.