Advice on choosing boat for me

Hi to all.  This is my first posting and am seeking advice on choosing the right Dinghy.  I am 54yrs, 15st, 6ft and living in The Cotwolds.  In 2004 I undertook a Sailing Course, Introduction - Competent Crew and Navigation in Botnay Bay, Australia.  I have just returned from another 3 month trip down under where I did some twilight racing.  All my experience has been in keel boats.  This experience is not extensive and I need lots of practice.

Since returning to the UK I have taken an RYA sailing course in dinghies and am looking to purchase one.  The sailing course was in a Laser Pico which I found a complete nightmare and very uncomfortable.  The majority of the time I will be single crewed but I would like the benefit of being able to single crew but carry from time to time 1 or 2 others.  I don't have a desperate wish to start racing until understanding more about what I am doing but also have a dinghy that I can grow into as my experiance grows.

I have been searching the web looking at all sorts of Dinghies but would value the advice of forum members.

Many thanks  Paul

Find a club. See what they sail there. Buy one of those. If you are sailing the same as other club members, you have an instant support network for advice, guidance and socialing, plus a future route into racing.

Originally posted by Phil eltringham The best boat for you to sail solo is probably a finn

I seem to remember one of the Cotswold clubs sails Phantoms. A possible choice at 15 stone and a bit easier to drag up the slipway than a Finn. 

Comet Duo, single handed.

If you are inexperienced you will learn quick, can be sailed with the main only, main and jib or jib only depending on the wind and your bravery. It is amazing to train in because people have said if you can sail one of those you can handle just about anything.

Picos are horrible, last winter during a boxing day persuit race, force 3 winds, flying down the lake and she rolls, very annoying and lots of swearing and thats something you dont need in a race.

The comet duo will increase your reaction speed, and when you start racing it gets pretty fun. I race in them regualry at my local lakes, normally against lasers, 420's, lightnings and I can still beat them all, and thats on the water, not just handicap. I have also used one to completly destory the HYDRS squad (Hertfordshire Youth Dinghy Racing Squad) and lapping them all apart from one laser.

Paul you are a big bloke to be sailing small dinghies.  Try the bigger ones, but that advice about joining a club and sailing what they sail is very good advice.