Wouter,
The HT rules were modeled after the A Class rules. We wrote the rules with existing boats already in production in mind and with the input of manufacturers and sailors.

The intent of the HT rules was to include existing HT's and to encourage development within reason. We didnt want to immediately obsolete a boat or force a team to spend unreasonable amounts of money to be competitive. We are however, reviewing and discussing changes to the rules set to encourage more development over time. One such discussion involves increasing the corrector weights, and over time, lowering the minimum weight. While nothing has been decided, several manufacturers and HT class memebers feel that the HT class picked a too high minumum weight. We feel that we should be flexible and make changes to the rule set carefully and over time to give everyone a chance to plan their investments over time, and not be locked in so that new models can embrace new technologies and materials as they become more mainstream.

The spirit of the rules is "anything that is not specifically prohibited is allowed" - so for example curved lifting daggerboards like the 60Tri's are not specifically prohibited. Use your imagination and most likely it is allowed. Changes to the spinnaker and spin pole produced significant increases in speed this year and every US team that I know of is not at the max hoist height, so more spin development (more speed) is likely. Also, most of the Bim HT's are heavy and could go on diet and still be over the min weight. So, the development aspect is alive in the HT class, just not as extreme or expensive as the C Class.

Yet, even as I write this,I know that you will argue, "So what, its all been done before." Yes, you are right, it has all been done before, but it hasnt been done before in a 2 man, lightweight, development class way.

Your statement that the A class being as open as the C class is misleading, the A class is not nearly as open as the C class. The A class rule set is open within limits, while the C Class is wide open. For example, the A Class has prohibited foiling.

If you had to rank the different classes from more open to less open, I would rank the C Class most open, the A Class and the HT in the middle and the F18, Tornado, etc. the least open.

Bill Vining