This whole myth about making things fair by having a 1 design boat is so tired and bogus.
If you step back and use common sense it becomes evident that the minute you set in stone the boat/rig you predispose the advantage to a particular weight/height/strength individual….if you fall outside these “ideal parameters” one is at an instant disadvantage…assuming sailing skill is equal. So where is the fairness in that? Too bad, so sad you say while at the same time claiming fairness out of the other side of your mouth.
The reality of the matter is that if a formula class was chosen, and each sailor could pick his/her boat/rig optimized for crew weight/height/strength, the playing field would be much more even than any one design.
Trying to make “equipment” not a factor is a physical impossibility…you can be politically correct till the cows come home… but the fact that you say something is so, doesn’t change the laws of physics. Let’s be honest with ourselves here…If you are 6’-2” and 200 lbs. you want the chosen boat optimized to your advantage…if you are 165 you want a different boat/rig….every time you change the crews physical make up the advantage goes in a different direction…and everyone involved is fighting to get that direction to favor them. Let’s call a spade a spade….”fairness” has nothing at all to do with it…it’s all a scam to get a leg up.
Do runners only have the choice of one size shoe regardless of how big their feet are? Sorry you really wear a size 9 but in order to compete you have to wear a size 12…how ridiculous is that?