Consider just about any design by Robert H. Perry, or other reknown
offshore designer: Tayana, Valiant, Baba, Tashiba, Panda, etc.

* * 1. She must be easy to handle.
Most Perry boats are full 'buttocked' so that the stern dosnt squat
and have a lot or reserve buoyancy, etc., have reasonable stability,
are 'seakindly' - slow rolling, less pitching, etc. etc. Easy to
handle depends 95% on how the individual owner sets up all the sailing
hardware, etc. You must be aware that long distance cruising boats
and racing boats are purposely designed for their venues --- the
differences would be equal to the comparison of a stable 747 versus a
totally unstable fighter jet.
Easy to handle means many different things. Most blue water design
boats are known for 'tracking ability', not for turning on a dime
inside a marina fairway, etc. I'd favor a split underbody with the
rudder at the very far end of the stern over a modified-full keel.
* * 2. She must be comfortable.
Seakindliness or dockside entertaining .... look at the stabilitiy
ratios, roll periods, etc. etc.
* * 3. She must be seaworthy.
Simply look for a mechanical/structural 'factor of safety' of about
4:1 for any offshore boat. Once you get down to the final-cut of
selection, join the various email, etc. 'owners groups' and ask about
their dirty underwear.
Most of the above listed are proven blue water boats. Seaworthy
depends a LOT on the skill/knowledge of the skipper.
* * 4. She must be fast.
Most of those above within your length criteria will vary from 135 to
170 PHRF .... of course these are mostly cutter rigged (true cutters
and sloops with added staysails) so you have to *really* already know
how to shape and trim for fast sailing as cutters are not easily
sailed with just a 'sloop' mentality. Fast also depends on water line
length and bow shape (how it performs in waves, etc. based on the
bow's 'half angle', etc.)
* * 5. She must be beautiful.
Perry is probably most reknown for his 'beautiful' shear lines,
etc.

If you're serious about such a boat, suggest you make your preliminary
selection 'cuts' then contract one of the major designers for
'consulting services' to aid in the end-game of your selection,
especially when you close down on the final few; and, especially when
you are thinking about contracting with a surveyor - thats when such
consulting services will pay off in spades - as the designer will have
all the history of what worked and what didnt, whats lasted the test
of time and what needs to be replaced or upgraded, etc. based on the
age or when the boat was built during the production series. They are
usually 'most critical' with their own designs. Such can save you a
lot of $, heartache and selecting the wrong boat for your exact
needs. You might want to review first several books of "boat design
criteria" as would be published by the various 'designers', etc. to
help in "what" type of boat you want. Amazon, and many of the various
marine-booksellers, etc. has them.
'
hope this helps