Welcome aboard, MabelGee,
You will be getting a lot of answers from CC proponents. Our point of view is different. We llike aft cockpits. For me, the
idea of a large island
bed was very attractive, especially for ease of getting in an out of it. Looked at some CC
boats, but decided other things were more important to me. To me, CC boats feel all chopped up.
Sleeping is only on off watches and at
anchor anyway, a small portion of your waking hours. So, why spend so much
boat volume on sleeping space, when, firstly, for coastal cruising or
passage making you need secure sea berths, that support you and hold you safe and comfortable in a seaway, and secondly, you could have more of the stowage you need, or better
galley space, or a nav station. IMO, you need sea berths that keep you parallel to the center line of the boat on both tacks.
You say you will have guests. Usually the aft doubles are well separated from the V-berth, so you don't need a CC for "space."
To me, CC's feel claustrophobic. As far as the sailing part goes, aft cockpits are much dryer, tend to have lower dodgers, and are easier to do trim from (can see the telltales), and sheeting angles for
sails seem to
work out better. This is all opinion, and so will the other side's be, it is really up to you to decide what you're going to want, and you might consider an interim boat for the purpose of deciding your preferences.
Ann