Ok, I've been following this thread for a while. Here is my suggestion. Buy a Hobie Wave to keep locally and play on. Then on weekends offer to crew for people on whatever they will take you on to learn different boats. You have the best of both worlds this way.

Do not buy an H16 to sail by yourself. H16's are impossible at your size to get in and out of the water without help. Also I would say even with a righting bag that you probably couldn't right the boat by yourself. Plus the boat is really to powerful to sail at your size by yourself.

With a Wave you will learn the basics of sailing. By crewing for people you will learn the finer points.

Good Luck,
Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com