In the ITA Class Rules 5a reads "This is a one-design class. A certificate may be refused even if the specific requirements of the rules are satisfied. Interpretations of these rules shall be made by the ISAF, which shall consult the ITA. The measurer shall report on the Measurement Form anything which he considers departs from the intended nature of the design on the boat, and shall not sign the form"

The new jib will certainly be protested on the basis that
it violates the one design principle of the class,(double headsails vs single) and the sail departs from the intended design of the boat (new rig) where the addition of the spinnaker was clearly to add sail area to enhance off the wind performance.

There have been other instances in the class where innovations that technically measured in were disallowed as
being not in the spirit of the rules. For example the first Guegeon cold molded boats had a keel that with much larger diameter than was achievable using the stressed ply stitch and glue method. The boats had less surface area and superior tacking ability but were successfully protested even though they technically measured in. The tolerances
to the measurement templates were later tightened to eliminate issues like this.

Personally I think the flat gennaker is a great idea and
represents a new evolution in catamaran sail design.

David Melcon