I was participating in the races with the AZ Lake Pleasant Yacht Club on Saturday. With winds of 14-16 and gusts to 20, were doing everything pretty well with PFD's on, the companion way closed up, the main reefed and the gene at about 90%. We made it to the windward mark comfortably, then on the down wind run we opened the gene to 150% and that was fine as well. But we were then over confident and wanting to compete, so we kept the gene out for the windward run to the finish line. Then we go hit by a gust and before we could release the sheets our mast nearly touched down and we took on a good amount of water. I don't know how much of our sail hit the water, I was too busy scrambling to stay in the boat, but I know we were nearly vertical for a moment. After coming back up the water was below the top of the bench seats and companion way, but after bailing out we realized we had a lot of water in every locker and the bilge was full. I don't think the lockers swung open especially not all 3 and I do have some cheep weather stripping on them which creates a little suction when opening them, so I don't know how we got so much water inside them. Please let me know if anyone can advise on best ways to seal the lockers. I'm also considering adding a bilge and a cockpit pump if anyone can advise on that. Thanks, Ron McNeil M17/Jackpot/#675