Before we go overboard on this.

The H16 (le race version) was never more then 2500 Euro's cheaper then a race ready F16 in Europe over the last decade.

The H16 (or any other boats) may be cheaper then another more high tech design but that still doesn't mean that the price difference is anything to fuss over.

It may be quite negligiable indeed !

Other then that I think the H16 will simply never be chosen as the olympic boat as indeed the laser wouldn't be chosen in now if it hadn't been in the olympics. Part of the magic of the laser (and I do enjoy sailing it) is due to its long history and associated involvement in the big O. But in a direct comparison without this bias it would be passed by a newer design.

Other then that the Olympic hopefuls will never support the H16 in the big O. No-one is campaigning to use timber tennisrackets in the big O either. It is just that simple.

The core of the situation is to find a design that works for the Olympics (which almost certainly involves adopting a carbon mast and asym. spinnaker) and is still affordable enough to allow for wide participation. It is not the other way around where afforability is consideration number 1 and all other aspects come second. No olympic sport is structured in this latter way and neither will sailing. That is just not in the cards.

Wouter