We are mostly sailing on Lake Michigan and have several older boats at the beach here (no harm done when kids jump on them).

We are semi-retired now and will be spending a month or two a year (spring & fall) at my place in Germany and travel in Europe. There I want to keep a cat in my garage and take it for sailing - either to the North Sea or some Bavarian / Austrian lakes.

I've had my mind for a long time on a Taipan 4.9 (maybe a Taipan F-16) or a Spitfire (liking the Spitfire better from the optical viewpoint).

We are recreational sailors -absolutely no racing- but like to invest nevertheless on a fast, light and high-performance boat.

I know that new Taipans and Spitfires are a bit easier to procure in Europe than in the U.S.(-maybe Wouter has some ideas as to dealers in the Netherlands or Germany??), although I dread the relative high price in Euros, considering the ever-falling U.S. dollar value, LOL!

Anyway, I'd like to get some feedback on either boat listed -
we are ready to go for it now and I just need some opinions from the catsailor community as to the pros & cons of the Spitfire & Taipans. I personally am not that detail-oriented as to the nitty gritty of the minutiae of the equipment details, but my partner is.

So bring it on!