[C320-list] Upwind performance

[Jane & Ken]

Rick,  Our 320 was the fifth sailboat we owned.  We previously raced a Peterson 25 and won many trophies over the years.  The 320 was the best mix of racing/cruising combination we found.  When we retired from hard core racing, we loved the creature comforts that the 320 provided and the grandkids enjoyed the 'floating condo'.
We sold her after seventeen years and she still looked and sailed great.   Ken

--- On Thu, 3/14/13, Rick Thompson <rickcyth at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Rick Thompson <rickcyth at gmail.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Upwind performance
To: "Catalina 320 Owners" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Date: Thursday, March 14, 2013, 2:46 PM

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are seriously considering purchasing a C320 for cruising and racing phrf on Lake of the Woods, Ontario. 
We just sold our first keelboat , a Mirage 25,  the past week.

We like the huge interior and  2 separate cabins and swim transom.

Because LOW is in the Canadian shield there are definite low water  hazards. Most are well charted.

I was wondering if you racer/ cruisers could give me feedback on the C320 performance with both wing and fin keel?
 I've also noticed that the Catalina's seem to be heavier than similar length boats, also. Heavier construction? More material due to carrying more beam?
Upwind performance is important because LOW has many islands so you  always seem to be beating the wind to get around them.
How would the performance of a C320 compare to say a C&C32? The C&C has a similar phrf at 150, narrower beam and lighter at about 9800lb.
Of course it's the older traditional design, without the open transom, 2 cabins etc.
Thanks,
Rick Thompson 

R Thompson