Roleur - I agree that there are many boats that can go out, like you say, but not many boats you can go out with 2 sailors and an old guy, feel under control and then sail back to weather in 25 knots sitting in the cockpit, fully under control the entire time (and in February none-the-less). I've been on a number of boats you mention, the Moore - absolutely (I own #26), the SC27, no way downwind in breeze, but great upwind. The Farr280 and C&C30od, maybe, but I will guess they need more people and a bit more paying attention to get the same feel. Never been on the seascape and donavan, so no idea there but the Express 27 and Moore 24 may be the best comparisons for stability, control and ease of use. Probably the J/70 but I don't think the Melges - Just my humble opinion.
I was very impressed with the boat, and after racing the next saturday in 20 to 25, puffs to 27/28 with 6 good sailors I was even more impressed. We took 2nd behind a Farr 395 and were one of 3 boats to fly our chute the entire way. Never felt out of control while rippin' along at 14 knots, pushing over 18 in the puffs, then drug her back to weather - much easier dragging the J/88 to weather than my Moore 24....
you can read about the race here, unfortunately we lost the photo boat for the rippin' downwind run and final 7 mile upwind leg, as they were helping the Sierra 26 recover. But they got a few good photos before that. This weekend we try her out in lighter winds, looks like 5 to 8. Should be a big switch after the stronger winds of our first two days out. Oh, and yes, we know the mainsail is not class legal, we did that on purpose as we won't see OD racing for quite some time here in the PNW and figured these sails would be club sails at that point. Same measurements, they just have the RSS battens and a red logo. And Yah, Sure, Ya Betcha, they are Ballard Sails.