It's hard to tell but I think that little movie is a Prindle or a G-cat....

Hobie 14s or a 16s are good beginner boats in that they are cheap to buy, plentiful (for good reason), simply rigged, and inexpensive to maintain. Many people sail them very successfully in all sorts of weather and water conditions. You do have to be a little more conscious about how hard you power up the boat to keep the bows from going under - but it's not a death sentence. Yes, SCs, Nacras, etc. are more pitch pole resistant but they ALL will pitch pole if pushed hard enough. A H14 or H16 would make a great beginner boat even if tacking requires a little more forethough. We can help him here to roll tack that thing in a snap!

One of the hulls should have a serial # stamped into it (usually around the stern). In that serial number is the date of manufacture. While I can't find it, there's a thread somewhere that explains what each number means (although it should be pretty obvious when you look at it).