However, I'm more in the "speed is safety" school -- I'd hate to be slopping
around in the Gulf Stream in a 5 knot boat. So within the realm of proven
seaworthy designs, I'd go as big as budget allows. I think the budget
mentioned
allows a pretty nice 35-40'+. But maybe that's my lack of real bluewater
experience showing. :-)

Matt O.

Fair enough, Matt, but consider:

If you're sailing a displacement boat, as most people would recommend for
blue water cruising, your 40-footer might have a waterline length of 30'; my
Giles Virtie will have a waterline length of about 19'. Roughly, hull speed
equals 1.3 times the the square root of waterline length of the displacement
vessel, so my hull speed is 5.7 knots, whereas yours is 7.1. Is that extra
1.4 knots really going to add all that much to your safety?

Of course you could go with a catamaran, but I've never been comfortable
offshore in a boat that is as stable upside-down as right-side up:-)

Jim