Back to your original question, yes, the M15 is significantly easier to travel with and rig than the M17. If I was traveling a lot to different sailing locations and not spending a lot of time at any of them, the M15 (in my opinion) is a better idea. But I would also argue with the idea that it's important to be able to do put up the rig and launch an M17 in 30 minutes. Why not enjoy the process as an extension of the sailing experience? And it can be made easy--much easier than lifting the mast by yourself and walking it up and all that. A couple simple lifting aids and the single hander's mast can go up and down in a very slow, controlled way. Rigging our M17 takes an hour or more, but it's a leisurely, stress-free experience (which I'm sure the 30 minute drill is as well, but I'm into long bike rides, thick books, old scotch, etc.) punctuated by frequent beer breaks, girl watching, and general gazing into space. t