>There are a number of Nacra 5.5 cats for sale at very reasonable prices around here. Lots of them younger than the 5.2s

i think the 5.5 replaced the 5.2 in the nacra lineup, that's why they are all younger. 2 versions, the 5.5 uni, a little longer in the hull but actually 10 lbs lighter and with less sail area and the 5.5sl with a jib. more sail area than the 5.2 but got heavier again too.

i sail solo on small lake and have capsized my 5.2 twice. once in medium winds when i was seeing how high i could fly a hull and once in light winds when i wasn't paying attention on a reach with the main cleated and got hit by a gust

at 6'2" and 75kg i had nowhere near enough weight to right the boat either time. probably dumb of me to flip the cat in winds too light to give much righting assistance but that's what newbies do. didn't matter it is a small lake and people were about to help me out. but you will be sailing solo in the north sea right?

at the moment i have it in the back garden with no tramp on and even without a sail with it tipped and my body weight fully leaned out inches above the turf i'm still well short of enough weight to get it back up. i'm working on a righting pole at the moment but i think it will have to be the walk out type to guarantee getting the boat back up. i can't see the hang off type working well without being too long