I'm interested in the forum's opinion on designs suited to coastal sailing.
I will be sailing (and eventually racing) at either Lyme Regis or Weymouth if that helps you to comment.

TIA

Matt B

NSM 2 is a very good design, carries a reasonable amout of weight but will prpbably be out planed by more modern boats. Still very good though

Yes, sort of.  To windward and running you will stay with the pack but you will be blown away on a windy reach is what I found with Elusive 3347.  Though my results remain firmly mediocre with Heaven Sent boatspeed on the reaches is not the issue.  But you have to start somewhere and if you are buying a 1st Merlin and can't afford the money for an older CT it's a good way in to the class with outstanding light weather performance.  If you are light then a Summer Wine or Gnome of a similar age may be a better boat on the reaches.

There are 2 older Jon Turner Canterbury Tales on the 2nd hand list but both asking over £3000.  In another idle moment I did count up how many Turner CT's there are in wood.  There are only 8 (with about 12 FRP/wood deck).  Most have a record...

The NSM2 design is a very good allrounder that can cope with most sailable conditions inland and on the sea.
If you find a good one and fall in love with it......buy it.....look after it..... and learn to sail it well.
The FRP NSM2 hulls were moulded from " OLIVER " which used to be at Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club.
Cheers,
Nigel

Actually Oliver was an Rowsell NSM 1, the NSM2's were taken from  a JT NSM2