Suitability of a Laser dinghy for learning

[chrondi]

Precisely ... the problem of dinghies with a jib is that they need a crew of two! That is the reason sailing schools do not use them for starter level learning purposes. The mainsail + headsail dinghy is for racing by intermediate to advanced sailors who have formed a team of two.

[Sailormon6]

I agree that you should look for a boat that has seats, so that you can sit down in the boat. When you sail a Laser, you sit on the gunnels (the sides) and your feet are in a well. When you sail it, you're constantly leaning back and forth over the water, balancing the boat with your body weight, and your butt is constantly wet. It's very much like doing sit-ups, and is not relaxing. The Laser is strictly a one-person boat. It's great fun if you're into racing, but I get the impression that you are interested in a more varied sailing experience. A boat that has seats, so that you can sit down, inside the boat, is a better choice for you. It will have more space inside, so you can carry an extra passenger or two, and a small cooler, and perhaps fishing gear, and it will be more stable. The boom will be a little higher, so you won't have to lean down so far to let the boom cross over when you tack the boat.