My wife and I are looking at a Valiant 32 that appears to be well
equipped, had a good survey 2 years ago and is reasonably priced. We
would appreciate feedback on its sailing characteristics and
capabilities from those of you who have sailed one.

We have recently had to modify our immediate (next 36 months) plans from
full retirement to seasonal (3 month - Jan, Feb, Mar) cruising outings.
We were looking at a boat in the 37' range (Tayana, Pan Oceanic,
Union) but are now considering something smaller (Valiant 32, South
Cross 31) due to time and financial constrains.

We have family in Curacao so we would like to sail in and around the
Southern Caribbean. We are looking at the trip south to Curacao the
first year, ABCs and Venezuela the second and then the San Blas islands
and Panama the next. The boat would be left in Curacao at the end of
each season. If you have sailed in these areas, we would also like to
hear about your experiences (sailing, people, weather) and your thoughts
on our choice of boats.