first-time cat

Good point Shadowman.  I was chatting to a Dart15 guy at the Ally Pally show who gave me a Sprint magazine. I've looked on the Sprint website and the Dart 15 does look good - if I can find a decent second-hand one then that may well be ideal.  There are a few on the Sprint website but none that are very geographically close.  I may try to put a "wanted" ad on their "buy & sell" page. 

Don't worry, windsurfers aren't afraid of getting cold & wet (well, not tooooo cold anyway... )

Hi Richard,

Sprint 15s are now made in South Africa by Collins Fibreglass and are imported by Windsport who can provide boats from stock. Collins Fibreglass are also the manufacturers of the Dart 18 which is imported by the Laser Centre.

There are also a number of second hand ones on the class website.

Cheers

Bob

I was going to mention the Sprint15 but I knew Bob would pop up sooner or later!

The Sprint 15 is an excellent little boat and if you check their website you'll see a map of the south coat with active S15 fleets. I seem to recall there being S15s at Hayling Island which would perhaps suit you both but no such luck! Try the Open Dinghy club, close to Worthing.

Otherwise infallible, I would take issue with Bob on the manouevring of a D16 around a the boat park. It is light enough for all but the very smallest.

(Actually any cat is easy if the trolley is in the right place as it balances itself. Only problem is going over bumps and uphill. Kepp the tyre well pumped)

Thanks for advice guys.  I guess Dave's point is one of the most important - my girlfriend will need to be able to right it on her own, but at the same time we'll probably want to sail together sometimes.  We're not going to be racing, just recreational sailing really.  It sounds like you're all saying the Twixxy is too small/slow so maybe I'll try to get a second-hand Dart 16 or 18.  I saw a Hurricane 4.9 for sail recently - are they any good? 

Port End - we've sailed in Turkey previously and as for sailing in this country, would like to join a club on the south coast (so lots of pebbles/shingle and steep shelves at high tide) although I've not ruled out the idea of trailer sailing and keeping the boat in a lock-up garage.