Advice on a cat for a returning sailor

Dear all,

I used to sail regularly (a few times a week) in my teens and got up to a reasonable level of proficiency (level 5, instructor ticket, level 4 racing instructor if that thing still exists).

Well I would like to start sailing again - in a cat this time - and am looking for advice on which one to go for...

I'd like something which is reasonably rapid, can be sailed singlehandedly but could carry two people, is easy to right if it all goes wrong, and can take the odd bit of rough treatment.

It would be second hand and cost less than £5k

I'm not keen on anything which is like a Dart 16 - I've sailed them a couple of times and really didn't enjoy them at all - they felt floppy, and the sails were dreadful - but perhaps I need to put up with that when you get rid of the boom??

What type of water will you be sailing on?

Also may depend on what boats are sailed at the club you are sailing at

Jonathan,

To make a proper suggestion really need more info. 

Will the boat be mainly 2 up (or solely 2 up) or do you need the single handed option ?

For 5K you can pick up an excellent Hurricane 59sx, but this is strictly the 2 up only option. 

You would probably pick up a Stealth F16 for 5K and have the 1 or 2 up options (And boy is it fun single handed).

Other options would be an Old (but failly un-competitive F18) or a Dart 18.

It really depends what is sailed at you local Club. 

Also look at a Spitfire. Ideally they are two-up boats but they can be sailed s/h. Same yard makes the Shadow but you would be hard pressed to get one at your budget. Hobie have the FX1 but it was one of the first s/h cats with spinnaker and I think you had to launch the kite from the tramp. Scooby will tell you more about the Inter17 and that's in your price range.

Do you have cat experience? I had pretty much the same quals as you but when I switched to cats I almost had to start again. Some would argue that I haven't progressed that far since. And what size are you?

Ignore the D16/Topper equivalent. D18 is a maybe but IMHO it's a dying breed, having been superceded by F16 and Spits. For that reason it's cheap.

When you indicate a desire for speed, how fast do you want to go? Even a D16 will outstrip a L3000 so it's all relative.

Spitfire is a possible, but I'd say the Shadow is out simply because it's not really big enough for 2. 

Inter 17 would be an option, but I think you would struggle to find one and it would be short of power uphill 2 up.  Unless they guy who bought mine wants to sell it.  He was based in Norway and came to the UK to buy mine.