That old chestnut, what dinghy!

Depends partly on what you want to spend.
Also do you aspire to going to any open meetings, trying to achieve better performance or just want to relax at the club?
One-class racing offers a lot that is hard to get from PY racing.
The finn seems to be having a bit of a resurgence, from top level new boats right through to vintage.
They carry weight well, but can you get under the boom?

Two handers, we the Alto looks OK, but you can get a very reasonable 505 for much less money, and it will probably be easier to sell on later. I would obviously say 400's are brilliant, and I could point you at people not ever so much lighter than yourself who make them go very well, but because of the hoop it's hard for a heavy helm to get forward enough in the light stuff.

To be honest I would think in terms of what races do I want to do/what venues do I want to attend and most importantly WHO do I want to race against? The people you compete with are the most important thing, I would compromise on the boat to find some good people to race against.
That means people I can enjoy socialising with, who are good enough sailors to make me improve, but not Olympic standard so they are over the horizon before I'm at the first mark...

Forget excel beardy- no one there worth seeing this year, dinghy exhibition is worth it though, you're not missing
Much at this time of year anyway!

Following the comments on boom height (on Finns and OKs), please note that these comments are probably posted by people who haven't sailed them.  These boats are sailed upwind with no kicker on, when you release the sheet to tack the boom rises and there's as much room to get under the boom as nearly all other dinghies.

Originally posted by PeterV Following the comments on boom height (on Finns and OKs), please note that these comments are probably posted by people who haven't sailed them.  These boats are sailed upwind with no kicker on, when you release the sheet to tack the boom rises and there's as much room to get under the boom as nearly all other dinghies.

I must admit I've only sailed a vintage one, years ago, it seemed a bit of a panic crash tacking it on a shift, compared to the Solo I was used to at the time.
Are you saying it's different when the mast's not made of wood?  ;-)

Originally posted by rogue Grumpf- the Deben has several sailing options from tree lined, very tidal affected 'river' sailing in Woodbridge, through to the Ferry, which has a lovely tidal bar to chuck up some serious sh*t in an easterly/north easterly . That looks more like Waldringfield to me, by can't really tell.

Sure, that's Waldringfield. They do sail on all tides but plenty of shallows at low water and though bags of water at high tide, racing tends to be processional. Deben YC always race at high tide when ther is plenty of space and variety. Racing is far less processional with potentially long courses and a stretch known as 'Troublesome Reach' where a challenging figure of eight course is available. I agree not suitable for asymmetric single handers!

Sadly Felixstowe Ferry SC has become a gastro-pub. There is no weekend racing and only a Wednesday evening race for a few lasers and one or two other assorted boats. What a waste of a great facility and wonderful sailing waters.