Am I dense, or what ?

I wouldn't have thought the Laser 2000, Vago or RS200 would happily deal with 18st + crew.

Another vote for the Wayfarer, which you will find at rhe Southampton Boat Show, although a lot of other possibilities will be absent. The show is generally for bigger manufacturers - go to the Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace next March for a much better overview. Or better, go around the local clubs and talk to people after racing with likely looking (bigger) dinghies.

Three golden rules:

1. Don't rush into buying a boat.

2. Definately try a few before you buy, even just crewing for someone else.

3. It matters more what sort of boats are sailed at your local club - you want to be in a fleet, not the only one of a kind when racing.

the figure for the hull volume below sheerline refers to everything below the top edge of the hull, therefore for it to displace that much the top of the hull will be the waterline, hence why it will require you to have 7 people in it to do that!

Hi Floggy, I'm also a Bath based sailer. I sail at Chedder resevoir. It's further than Chew but there isn't the massive waiting that you'd be constantly bumped off of due to being a new sailer, never having sailed at other clubs or knowing the comittee....

So, after you have done the course (Weymouth i guess?) why not come down for a look around and a sail? I'ts much easier getting advice if you can actually get into the boats that you are being advised about. It also makes a lot of sense to get a boat the is commonly sailed at the club that you are sailing at. Then you find that a lot of people  will be around to give you advice on how to set up and sail the boat.

Mirror probably not the boat for you though!

Take a long look at the Laser 2000.

Established fleet (35 for an Open Meeting at Chichester over the wekend), great boats with lots to do for the crew - but it is still possible to sail single handed if you want. A good weight carrier, and can either take you and one son for a race, or you and the lot for a cruise and a picnic.

There are lots of Dads and Sons / Dads and Mums / Dads and Dads / Mums and Dads / Daughters etc sailing and racing them: so a good atmosphere at the different events.