Another which boat...

why are you quoting yourself?

and just duck some more during tacks

Fraggle, 

Your size and weight will be OK for the 300. You might be a bit light of the B rig but you can always reef that if need be which brings it to the same size as the A rig. The rig is very easy to depower. After a few sails you will soon find that throwing weight around in the boat won't help and that's it all technique. Why not get the adresses of those 300's at your club and write to them offerring money? You never know. But of course, try all the boats before you buy.

Well I now have a go in a Europe lined up for this weekend - any tips that I should bear in mind?

Just like to dispell a myth about the europe boom height, following a discussion with a radial sailor at the club we measured it. During a tack when the helm is crossing the boat there is more room under a Europe boom than a laser.  This is because the europe cockpit is deeper and with the new XD kicker systems the laser boom doesn't lift during a tack.  The europe is sailed upwind without kicker, the same as the OKs and Finns so during a tack as the mainsheet tension is released the boom lifts. 

Anyway enough of that, I might as well add a completely biased opinion whilst I'm here because that seems to be the done thing, so try a europe, it's the best boat in the world, perfect for somebody your size.  Contact the class through the website I'm sure we'll be able to sort you out a test sail.  www.europeclass.org.uk

Moomin  Europe GBR391

im around the same weight but taller...

i was told that the 300 was the wrong boat for me, but now i have proved them wrong

and thats with the big rig on the 300 which im a good few stone to light for, so if the 300 was for you go for the smaller rig