I was about to offer you my boat, but your budget is not enough.  Maybe an old Hurricane is the way to go, but you cannot (really) sail this single handed.  Spitfire is possible single handed with some experience.

If you are looking for a speed fix, then it has to be a cat.

Maxin,

You are alowed Cats on Farmoor now, good ho.  Years ago I was prevented from sailing my Dart 18 there at a Schools Nationals - I was not a happy bunny and ended up in a Laser II (for the first and last time) .

Cough, 1986 ish....  Cough

Just make sure it has a 'bendy' mast, much faster when the time comes for racing.

Cat or mono hull?  If you like wind surfing, I suspect that you will want to continue to do that in any wind of force 5 or more. Therefore, you want a boat to sail inland in lighter winds. This means a normal mono hull dinghy, rather than a cat.

Single handed with something extra to do? How about a Vareo? Has a good kite to help you down-wind.

A Laser is always a good bet for the close racing you can have.

Trying to find something for you single handed that you can take the wife in is tricky, but some of the smaller 2-man boats might be acceptable: Graduate, Heron, Pacer: but they could all be a bit boring.

An RS200 would be lively enough for 2, with good close racing, but I haven't seen people sailing them single handed.

Or an RS400 if between you you are 23 stone or more - but definately NOT single handable.

Why not try an RS300?

More simple rig than a blaze but faster and better overall contruction.

Carve gybing is also a really useful technique in the 300!!!

Cherub seems the best bet because for thrill factors they will have you jumping for joy. Plus there seems to be a few in your area, why not arrange to sail with someone for a season then get a boat once you've got that season's experience under your belt.

We've been through this with 5420 - have a look at the discussion below.

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=642&KW=5420&TPN=1 - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6 42&KW=5420&TPN=1

My advice remains - Make a shortlist, have a trial sail in each.

For reference, a Musto Skiff would give you the thrills but could be outside your budget,  Contender has top competition nationally and internationally and a good secondhand choice, the Vortex Champion is an ex windsurfer Div 1 world Champion, and several other ex Windsurf racers sail them, Blaze with new rig are excellent - especially if that will get you class racing. In the end you'll never get the same speed thrill as in a windsurfer but the racing is stacks better. So go to Farmoor on  a busy day and see whats popular. In most clubs that will be Laser, Solo, Phantom or similar. Either sail that for the fleet racing or go for one of the faster more exciting but usually less well supported classes. Don't they sail Int Canoes at Farmoor?

What do you weigh, Alex? For all dinghies, but especially single-handers, there is quite a narrow band of optimum weight, particularly because you plan to race.

I'm not sure all of Hector's suggestions are really suitable for someone who hasn't sailed dinghies before, albeit an experienced windsurfer. For example, International Canoes are extremely tricky to sail. Contenders and Musto Skiffs are helmed while trapezing, which is a pretty steep learning-curve for a first-time helm. I say this as someone who also made the transition from short-board windsurfing to dinghy helming.

My first dinghy was a Europe. At the time I was 10 stone; Europe competitive weight is around 10-11 stone so it wouldn't really suit you. They are lovely responsive boats though, and at the time had a good open circuit. Later on I sailed Merlin Rockets, dabbled fairly unsuccessfully with a International Moth, and also did a lot of keelboat racing.

My recent sailing has been in keelboats of various classes: inshore and offshore (long distance) racing. However I still own a Merlin Rocket.

RS300 could be a good choice at 83kg. Laser would be another obvious choice, with class racing at most clubs. There is a great deal to be said for buying a boat with class racing at your local club; a point that perhaps hasn't been emphasised enough here. If there is a class at your club, you have an automatic social and advice network, and class racing is much more satisfactory than handicap.

buying a single handed racing boat for me seems a good idea, esp. one that has a good amount of racing at local clubs.  I think I'll have to start there and see what the club at farmour has to offer.  I know lasers are popular due to the racing but are they good fun to sail if not racing?  Would I be wanting a fun/mess about boat aswell?  Are the laser vortex's good fun? Fast?  Or is a single cat like a hobie 15 better?  So many questioons when you're starting and thanks to evryone who has been patient with me and answering.  It really does help hearing different opinions. 

A social life attatched to racing may encourage the wife to participate, so the laser racing may help me there too.

Lasers fun?  Hmm.  Not the fastest or best designed boat in the world and can be a battle up wind in a blow; but there's little to beat belting down a reach with your shoulders skimming the wave tops!!  Go-kart racing on water.  There is something appeallingly basic about them.

and hey, for the speed they're cheap, there's lots of them and they'll never stop selling the parts.

Vortexes haven't really caught on - and laser stopped production, plus cramped and a ****er to tack (apparently).  Dart 15 maybe?

Nicks comments about Lasers are spot on - especially the comparison with gocarts. Shame he had to spoil a sound post by saying

A Vortex cramped - surely you're joking Nick? There must be more deck space than any similar sized boat and a high boom.  To then say a Vortex can't tack and suggest a Dart 15 (Sprint) in the same breath is ludicrous. Vortex tack very well - there is a technique to be learnt but then there is for any boat and once mastered they tack as fast as almost any singlehanded dinghy of the same speed. 

As for fun, with the new kite Vortex are lots of fun and very fast. That said I'd still say go to Farmoor and if Lasers are the most sailed class - get one.

And Nick - don't listen to 'apparently' he obviously knows nothing.