Looking at this from the other direction for a moment...
Bobsleds are box-rule if I'm not mistaken. In the last Winter Games, there was a great deal of discussion about NASCAR (or Formula One?) designers being called up to design and build them.
Other than the fact that sailing is on the verge of being booted for other reasons, why couldn't ISAF push back at IOC and ask for a silimar approach for one of the sailing medals (cats, for example)?
Mike
Dropping the keel-boats suggests IOC assertiveness. So, what is to be 'recommended' for the catamaran, will involve the manufacturers, for whom managing and sustaining growth any popular class is very much in their self-interest. FWIW, the success of the Laser shows that designation of an 'Olympic class boat' is not always a death-knell for the class-it just requires appropriate management.
As 'equipment advantages' is strongly discouraged by the IOC, the boat which is ultimately chosen may be expected to have lots of restrictions on the design.
I say Pick one boat, one mfr, and sail it more or less 'as stock', for the Olympics.
