I finished a similar trip last year on a Swan 38, down the west coast
from Seattle, the HAHA, 7 months in Mexico, then Hawaii and back to
Portland.
I heard a lot of people say they were susceptible to broach, not
good in following seas and not good for a Monitor wind vane. My
experience was very different, we had 30kt off cape Mendocino, and
pretty big waves, it seamed to handle great and the wind vane was no
problem. I had my family with me and never put of the tri-radial or the
cruising spinnaker up in anything over 25kt. So pushing it in high
winds and seas may have had different results. In light winds coming
over the Pacific high, we left the asymmetrical up for 48 hours with
the monitor, and it handled great.
I think its great to cruise in a boat with good sailing
characteristics, and that design was great. It was not so comfortable
for reading in the cockpit, and if our friend were in a Halberg Rassy,
were more likely to hang out on their boat. But compared to the price
of most cruising boats, it seems like a great way to go.

John