Vanguard 15s are great, and I strongly recommend getting one.
I'm several years younger than you, and find the the boat fine to
handle. They're very ergonomic, with little equipment on deck to give
cuts or bruises, and the curved decks make it easy to hike out in
them. Definitely easier to sail than a Laser when you have two
people.
The local fleet is a lot of fun, both for the racing itself, and the
camaraderie. Thursday nights we'll get 15-20 boats on the line for
several races and a BBQ afterwards. You can't beat it.
Singlehanding is probably a pretty sketchy idea, even with just a
main, especially for the capsize issue that Jorge mentioned. That
said, we have a pretty large crew list here on the site that you can
use.
The boats have a wide range of optimum weights -- you can be
competitive at 280 to 325 pounds -- the key is to adjust your mast
rake and mast butt position to accommodate your weight. This makes it
easier to find a crew.
Hope this helps, and hope you can join us.
:: Hello V15 Owners
::
:: I am considering the purchase of a V15 and would
:: appreciate any feedback on the boat from current owners.
:: I am 50 and in reasonably good shape. As a teenager i
:: sailed a Laser and loved it. Not been sailing since.
:: Looking for something sporty as I will be single handed
:: sailing most of the time but want something that can
:: accommodate two people in hopes I can get my wife
:: involved in time? Is a V15 a good choice or something
:: like a Capri 14.2 better? Appreciate your thoughts.
