I was 12 and we rented a cabin in the UP of Michigan. A kid had a Sunflower (styrofoam boat with a lateen sail) I thought it was so cool.
After that vacation my Dad and I took a sailing class at the local community college and shortly therafter bought a Dingo catamaran. (small cat with a centerboard...yes, that's right a centerboard). I had a lot of fun with that but wanted to start racing.
We then 1978 bought a Hobie 16 #34853 and started racing with the local fleet. Still have the old 16, my kids have started to race it in our club races last year. Pretty cool

John