Haven't sailed dinghies since I was about 12 - I am now 32 (and 15.5 stone)  Started sailing 40+ footers about 7 years ago primarily offshore racing and then bought myself an Etchells.

Now want to get back in to dinghies but there are so many I don't know where to start.  I'd really like something fast (2 handed, although single hander would be OK), but am concerned I might be biting off more than I can chew.

Always wanted an International 14 when I was younger but would now love to end up in a 49er (probably not a good idea for a first boat eh?).

Any help/advice would be gratfully appreciated.

Thanks for the quick response JimC.  Regular crew may be a problem, I'll have to work on it.  A 505 sounds like a good idea, especially as you can pick up an older one fairly cheaply.

I had looked into Finn's as they are a bit of a fat boys boat, I just can't quite decide whether to go for a singlehander or not.  It's a case of weighing up the pros and cons - or buying one of each!

Or if you want fast, but no trapeze, and you can find a crew of about 12 stone or so, a B14? If you're going to the boat show on Saturday, there will be a small number of them engaging in short course racing in the docks, as well as the '9ers.

Or an Osprey ;-)

I can't believe how many replies I've had - thanks very much to everyone.

I was always aware that here would be a fairly wide range of opinions depending on experiences etc but I have done a little research on each and every suggestion.

The Vortex is an interesting one.  I remember when Laser introduced it but hadn't really heard anything about the boat since so had assumed it been a bit of a failure.  It certainly ticks all the boxes in that it's fast, fun and forgiving.

If I survive my first post xmas rugby match on Saturday I'll drag myself down to Emsworth Slipper SC on Sunday and canvas the troops there.

To have a comparison - come to Burghfield (J12 on the M4, Reading) on Sunday.

We generally have a number of different RS400's racing in the Asymmetric Handicap, along with a Vortex.

49er or I14 is definitely not a good idea for entry level!

A lot of people struggle with plenty of recent experience

Vortex is a good Idea. I used to have one and had great fun in it, It became a great learning boats preparing me for the 600! It isn't quite a dead fleet yet, plans are aparently tring to be bought from laser so can be reproduced and tweeked with maybe a built in shoot etc. They are also really cheap performance boat, about 250 were made (nubered from 1000), I sold my one number 1173 for £1900 in the end with a 6month old assy kit!!

400's are also a good boat as my parents have one and compared to the 6 is a really nice stable platform!

laser 8.1 -cheaper than a phantom and you wont lose any money on it when you sell it in a year(2?) depends how much money you have as i would think the phantom is a better boat. (guy at my club struggled in lasers and i would nail him in the radial (him in full). he got a new phantom and now i struggle to beat him in a blow in the rs300.

iv heard bad things about the vortex, apparently some good sailors have been out in one and got nailed. not seen one sailed though (might be worth taking this with a pinch of salt?)

In terms of Single-handers Phantoms are pretty nice boats but quite pricy - if you're looking to move on from it in a short period of time just to get you back into sailing you can pick up an 8.1 for very little money and they aren't bad boats, although i've only sailed one twice.

For a double hander a 505/Osprey/Javelin would probably suite the bill as something fast that can take a man sized man onboard. Nearest decent sized Osprey fleet to you would be in Poole, however i have heard there are 4/5 hanging round Chichester Harbour, possibly at Mengeham Rythe where we'll be having an open meeting with the Finns next June. Thinking about it Finn may be a good choice for your size as there is a decent fleet at Mengeham.

Noycey are you gonna have your boat ready for Blithfield at the end of April? Tis the only open meeting i'm doing before I leave for Menorca, would be good to have you there. Thinking bout organising a night out for us young 'uns in the nearest proper town for the friday night, dunno where that is yet, i'll ask a local mate. What rig/sails you gonna have?

JSA01, where are you based, if you want a go in a Finn i know plenty of people in chichester harbour that would get you out on the water with one to try, they're down in bosham which unlike mengham can sail no matter what the tide lol and are trying to boost their Finn numbers atm.

.......... and breathe ...............

Ok I'm usually a lot better with my punctuation, sorry BNS.

I went through a very similar situation.

If you search for the topic "single hander for heavyweight " you may be interested in following my journey ( guided by the wise words of this forum ).

To save you a lot of reading, I got a contender, im still not very good, but i love it!

Dan

So many boats and ever growing uncertainty over which to choose.....

Hobbo's suggestion of an 8.1 sounds like a good, cheap option - a fat boy's Laser, I didn't even know they existed until this a.m.!

BBSCFaithful - selling his I14.  I've always wanted one since I was very young but would I be a complete liability on the water?  It may be a little like trying to run before I can walk.

Charlie - I'm just up the road from Bosham and would like the chance to see/try a Finn.  I couldn't join Bosham though - my family links to the Slipper SC go back 40 odd years (well before I was born) and I'd be burnt at the stake!!

I think I'll have to try and blag a crewing position with a tolerant helm on a few of these options or hijack someones singlehander and see what I like best.

Once again, thanks for the advice...anyone need a very rusty crew for a day?!

OMG another ridiculous comment about the Vortex - from someone who's never even seen one sailed. I thought we'd killed off the "Daft Unsubstantiated My Mums Chiropodists, Uncles, Neighbours' Terrier told someone Club'!

The sentence doesn't even make any sense - what does "got nailed" mean?  No don't bother tell me just find that pinch  - no a barrel of salt and 'take it'.

jsa01 - to find out more about the Vortex visit the class website or search for threads on here. My honest opinion is that at 15.5st you're probably on the heavy side to make a Vortex go.  So if you're after a trapeze I'd suggest a Contender - MPS later. If hiking grabs you, I'd concur with the Phantom or Finn suggestion. Not seen an 8.1 sail so I won't judge them!  Blaze might be fun if or when? they go for the asymmetric.

i was told this by a coach at plas menai. the reason they sold theirs was due to too many people taking it out, not being able to sail it and breaking it.

sorry if i offended you and for using 'youf talk' but i think its probably not a good boat for someone to 'learn/get back into' dinghy sailing. mabe something hiking for the first season as its easier to flatten the boat if you make a mistake in breeze.

having said that, if your up for a challenge go for it. just try out all the boats you can before you make a decision. chances are one will jump out as the right one.

the fatties laser is a good rig on a very painful uncomfortable but still suprisingly quick boat (i didnt get along with the whole hiking thing so i got a trapeze boat and have been swimming since then, but the fleet racing was great in the laser). You would definately get your mney back on an old laser so it is a fairly safe bet to get back into sailing with.

buying a 14 straight away would NOT be a good idea. you will get completely naied. i would suggest remembering how to sail small boats in something more sensible for a year or 2, then maybe consider getting something silly. small ulls and big rigs are definately fun but they are also tricky so i wouldnt recomend this at all.

the finn is a nice boat to look at, reportedly it carries weight well and i shouldnt imagine its much more tricky to get round the course than a laser. But with all the extra string onboard a finn i would think its more tricky to get that last bit out of it to win races. still it would be a good challenge. the phantom is basically a cheaper finn, also a very good boat, but on a tighter budget.

jsa01 if you want to try a finn, drop me a pm and i'll try and get you in touch with the class captain down at bosham who's usually quite willing to get people out in Finns.

I was wondering how long it would take you to find that post.  Love the uncle's neighbour's terrier thing!  It's as if there's a hidden sub-text there...