first time sailing in semi heavy wind

well since hurricane isabel is floating around by me i decided to go out on my lake, (i live in ny and the storm is in virginia now) The wind was really gusty but when i got a good gust..Wow!! i was really moving fast, and this is with my friend on the boat. Then it seems like i started to pitchpole, the front of the boat started going under the water, thats what you call it right? It might have just been becuase the weight on the boat wasnt in the right place.
well anyways..just wanted to share that
-Anthony-

Well geeze, and then what happened??? I take it you didn't flip.

I had that happen to me one day when I first tried sailing my 14. It happened so fast that I was into it, before I could react to the gust. I sit back further now. My ole heart can't take it!

Where I sail is a large resevoir with the largest underground hydroelectric power plant in the world at the leeward side. Also due to the northern climate (53 degrees 33 minutes North) the water and air tempertures are not exactly tropical so pitchpoling is not an option. I am committed to remaining dry!.

yaa i came out fine because i turned outta it. IT isss SOOOO INDY TODAY! im going out again with my friend, ill tell you how it goes

WOw sailing today sucked, first the pin that holds the sail to the boom by the mst came out..so i had to go back in to fix that, then the rope that is atached to the traveler snapped.. i had to retie that in like 20 mph winds. Anjd wow the boat really does pitch pole. the front goes down alot. Got any suggestions

if im just sailing around my lake with light winds...how much should the mast be raked?