40cc experience
I have only one week experience on a 40cc, this is what I fondly remember. My first trip to the BVI where my family came (instead of my sailing buddies) was on the 40cc. It was a birthday gift from my wife that she would even attempt to live on a boat (for a vacation or otherwise) for one time only, "and don't ask again". After that very comfortable trip on the 40cc, she became hooked on live aboard cruising in the BVI, we have been back twice since. I credit this boat for helping! It was just an all around good experience. That particular year we had Christmas winds on our vacation, so I only know under heavy wind how she sails ... very sweet, and that we felt extremely safe with that boat. The boat simply carved through on-coming and continuous 6 foot swells (50 second period) close hauled well balanced and without slowing as waves crashed into the bow. She was easy enough to reef, and otherwise managable with me as the only crew certified ... and my experience at that time was only with 36 footers. We constantly docked her while in the BVI. Even though the winds were well under 25 kts by the slips, it was still pretty windy ... yet the boat was especially easy to dock due to the center cockpit. I can see how some people felt the cockpit was small, but in comparison to other 1997 boats, I felt it was roomy enough, although having the additional roof aft of the cockpit to lay things on (snorkling gear, cooler, etc.) may have given me the feeling it was larger then it was. The link below was found on this site.
