I think the Nacra 5.5 Uni (or Sloop) would be ideal for what you describe. The Uni has only a mainsail and is designed for single-handed sailing. The Sloop has a shorter mast and a relatively large jib, and was designed to be sailed 2-up. Both Uni and Sloop have the same hulls and easily support the weight of your family. When the Nacra 5.5 came out, one of the families in our club bought both the Sloop and Uni rigs so he could race when no one in the family wanted to race with him. There were others that bought the Sloop but just removed the jib and raced single handed with main only. They didn't have as much power as the taller Uni rigs, but the boat handled and sailed beautifully, just like the Uni does. I raced the Uni for 9 years and found it to be a delightful boat. The local dealer is offering the Uni sailors an opportunity to trade in their Uni if they want to purchase a new F17, so he may have some available that could fit your price range (cathouse1.com). Of all the boats proposed, I think this is the best. Very similar to the Nacra 5.2 hulls, just lengthened another foot. It has daggerboards (like the Hobie 18) and will sail closer to the wind than the boats without the daggerboards. It is boomless, and therefore, is a little safer for all onboard.