Thanks so much for your reply! It sounds like you have been overall very happy with the sailboat. Glad to hear C&C was responsive to your questions too.
7.5-8 knots is not that bad for a 32 foot boat. The theoretical hull speed for 32 feet is 7.6 knots, but once you are heeled over, the waterline length changes and is longer (we've hit 8.1knots in our J/24 downwind, but I think we were starting to plane)
Check out this web site:
Boat Speed | Hull Speed | Speed Calculator
Was that heading up wind, broad/beam reach or downwind? Have you tried different sail trim? We bought our first boat 4 years ago and learned a ton about sail trim (and we probably have a ton more to go!). With some basic trim steps (outhaul, cunningham, backstay) we found we didn't need to reef so quickly or when the wind is lighter we could go faster.
How have you found the amount of ventilation in the cabin while cruising in the summer time? I was concerned that the side windows do not open at all.
I heard about the carbon fiber mast too. I guess they offer a great deal if you wanted to covert to one, but I can image the cost is still pretty steep. I also heard that carbon fiber may not be as durable as the traditional aluminum.