[paulk]

A fractional rig in your price range and quite popular in the Pacific NW is the J/36. We bought ours with another family (same issue with kids, etc.) and have been really pleased with our choice over the past 7 years here on the East Coast. We''ve never raced a J/35 that we haven''t passed, and don''t worry about Beneteaux, since they''re generally too far astern to see. (even the new one by your NZ friend...) The boat is tough -- we''ve had ours out in 30 knots with a full main, 150 genoa and spinnaker pulling us at better than 13 knots - as well as beating into 25 knots and 6'' seas for days at a time. She''s fun to sail, and offers a lot of performance and room for the money. Some of them are rigged to sleep 11, so kids can invite friends ... or you can race overnight with five to windward on either tack. Cruising is fun as well. We''ve taken her to New York City and Newport RI, and lots of places in between. Perhaps Maine and Nantucket this summer. There seem to be a bunch of them in the Puget Sound area, and they might be worth looking into.