I was 26 or so, when I learnt sailing on an "Ixylon" (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixylon). It is a strange boat, buildt in the former "German Democratic Republic", the communist eastern part of Germany. In this time it was forbidden to sail on the sea, because it could be used to escape. However I learnt on it after the end of the cold war in Bulgaria on the the black sea.
First boat I owned was a Dart 18. Today I sold it...