PHRF ratings favor light air and windward performance, two things that don't mean a lot for a cruising boat. With their
full keel wetted surface a W32 is at a severe disadvantage to boats with a cutaway forefoot long
keel or a fin
keel boat. It's not that they won't move under sail, just that they don't move as fast.
On our way back from
Tahiti had very light winds till we picked up the NE trades above the equator after the doldrums. Winds were never more than 10k and often half that. Still managed to average better than 50nmpd with one no wind day in the doldrums good for 12nm mostly
current progress. One thing the W32 won't do is go hard on the wind in choppy conditions and very light air. Crack off a bit and they will move. Given a bit of wind they will embarrass outright racers on a close to broad reach. We averaged 118nmpd with almost no
engine time and two crossing of the doldrums. Worst day 12nm, best day 176nm through the
water for over 10,000 miles. FWIW W32's regularly win their class and sometimes over all in the on corrected time in their class and finished ahead of supposedly faster boats like the Valiant 40.