For the Larger beginner

Hi

I’m new to sailing having just completed my Level 1 & 2 courses using a wayfarer. I’ll be sailing at Draycote sailing club near Coventry, 600 or so acres.

My question is that although I’ve used the forum search function to death I can’t really seem to fathom what would be a good boat for myself. I’d initially been looking at the smaller rota-moulded boats (Pico) but after trying one I realise I’m far too large for these (6’2” and nearly 17 stone ).

Could anyone suggest a suitable boat for a heavyweight who is new to the hobby. I don’t want to buy a boat that will be too much for me, but also don’t want to buy a boat that I’ll be bored of in a few months. I’d like to race one day but at the moment that’s not my first priority I just want a boat that I can learn on and still be happy with for a while.

I’ve got a budget of £2500 - £3000

Any views / advice would be greatly appreciated

You didn't say whether you wanted a single or double handed boat?  If two then try a laser 2000 or you wouldn't go very far wrong with a Wayfarer. 

If its a single handed boat you wanted then I would say try a phantom.  I'm sure the class association could arrange a trial sail.  Couple of things you could do to make things more manageable: 1. sail with some mast head buoyancy until you get past the capsizing a lot phase, 2. try and get a boat with a spare sail and get a sailmaker to cut it down so you loose the bottom 1 - 2 meteres.  You'll then be able to control the power better while you're learning.

hope that helps - garry

Thank for all the advice.

I only want a single hander as I have no one else to sail with. The laser sounds like a boat I can grow into for a while, I just was not sure if it would be to much for me to handle or if I'd be too tall to sail it, I'm taller in the body with the legs of a 5'10" person.(what a freak) so boom height is an issue for me.