Slow and gimicky character boats. They have always struck me as being more about looking the part than sailing the part. This may be a product of my tastes which run toward modern designs and genuine traditional watercraft. (I am putting my Farr 38 together and racing in gaff riggers both in the same weekend). I know that these boats have local fans. I just happen to not be one of them.
I suppose if you live and sail in an area with consistent winds in the low teens, and don''t are about covering distances under sail, these are reasonable boats.
Jeff