There are a few subtleties that have not been mentioned here:
1.) a world cruising yacht does not have to have Sterling upwind performance, just adequate, because most of the time it is going to be sailing either across the wind or down wind,
2.) Such a boat will spend at least 85% of its time in port with people living aboard (your real good upwind bashers will spend 98% just accruing berth rent), so the wide decks and modest draft of the 'Spray' type really come in handy,
3.) the modern 'Spray' types (I hesitate to call them replicas) have external ballast. The original had only internal. The modern 'Spray' most certainly has a better range of stability than the original, as well as being able to carry sail longer,
4.) modern 'Spray' types have much better sail material than the original, further improving their windward performance. ol' Josh probably would have killed to get the stuff we have now, and
5.) When ol' Josh went out on his last voyage, 'Spray' is said to have been in bad repair. She was built using 'green', unseasoned wood and that later caused problems. Also, the rigging was said to be in dire need of replacing. It seems that ol' Josh was more a victim of poverty than he was of the shortcomings of his boat. Few boats can tolerate sustained neglect, and fewer can get by with as little yard equipment as a full keeled 'Spray' type can. She can stand on her long, shallow, keel and be scraped and repainted during low tides. I would love to see one of these glider wing like, bulb keeled wonders do that.
Modern boats need steering vanes, electric autopilots, or other mechanical do dads in order to sail down wind well. A 'Spray' type can do without.
I would not hesitate to go voyaging on such a boat.
But I would hesitate to get into a tacking duel with a more moder type in one.
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