IMO, the Santana 22 was "born for the Bay". It is one of Gary Mull's earliest designs and one of the most enduring. I believe that there is still an active one-design class on the Bay with all that this entails. They are a bit dated, but still sail as well as ever!
In your case, a lot depends on the
partnership, and whether that would be an attribute or a detriment... sometimes having a partner to kick things around with is good, but having sole responsibility for a yacht is a great stimulus for learning!
Cheers,
Jim