there already is a draft done a few years ago for a "formula 14" The International
"12 Square Metre, 4.3"
(formula 14)
racing catamaran
The following are the perimeters for a competitive formulae for an international racing catamaran class. Based on the international success of the "A" class catamaran, this formulae offers the feel, response and performance of sailing craft of greater size and expense.
Due to the relatively low cost of production of this size of craft (ie: approximately one third of the cost of an internationally competitive "A" class catamaran, but with
90% plus (approx') of it's potential performance), it offers access to the highest level of sailing/racing to the greatest number of sailors.
By setting the measurements predominantly as maximums, it allows the "back yard" home builder to produce a catamaran that is potentially equal to that built by the professional and/or commercial builder. By having so few dimensional measurements defining the class, it makes it virtually impossible to have conflict over any interpretations of the class. Yet the class is at the same time defined to quite a fine detail and therefore, hopefully of limited dispute.
By the incorporation of a set of perimeters that define what a "14 foot" cat is, it allows builders now and in the future to design/build/mass produce, catamarans that, although they may all appear radically different from design to design, they will, if built within the following perimeter dimensions, still be extremely competitive with each other. This can only be a good thing for all aspects of the "class" in particular and sailing in general.
1. L.O.A. (of hulls excluding rudder stocks and rudders) 4.305. metres
2. Maximum beam overall 2.2. metres
3. Maximum mast height (including all fittings) 7.8 metres
4. Maximum sail area (incl' half of the mast area bounded
by the luff length of the sail) 12.00 sq metres
5. There is no minimum or maximum weight.
6. There are no restrictions placed on the type of building materials or of
the manner in which the craft can be built (other than those contained
within these definitions).
7. (a) Can be amateur/home built.
(b) Can be professionally built.
(c) Can be a "commercial" production built craft.
8. Rudder stocks have to be hinged directly at the transom's with no device
to "extend" the rudders aft of their conventional place in the stocks (in
their normal sailing attitude).
9. Closed cell foam buoyancy must be permanently attached internally in
the hulls. It must be of sufficient volume to support the entire craft and crew in the upright sailing position when either one or both of the hulls
are full of water.
10. There has to be a righting rope of 8 mm minimum diameter and 4 metres
minimum in length, permanently attached at the underside of the
trampoline, so that it is fully accessible and functional for the purpose
of righting the craft when it is either in the "90 degree" or the fully
inverted "180 degree" position.
11. The hulls, rudders, or centre boards, cannot have any "winged" or foil
attachments to them that acts as a "lifting" mechanism or as a vertical
movement dampening device. Anything that could possibly be described
as a hydrofoil is not allowed.

12. All fittings and attachments (excluding the rudder stocks, rudder
gudgeons and pintles, rudders, and tiller extension) must fit within the
maximum dimension of the sailing platform ie: inside a rectangular area
of 4.305 metres by 2.2 metres. No fittings/attachments shall be connected
to the craft so that they are outside of those dimensions. NB: The trapeze
can only extend outside these dimensions when it is attached to the crew
and being used for it's designed function.
13. No temporally attached, or movable ballast can be used on the "class".
14. The crew cannot carry any form or type of ballast. This includes
containers or "pockets" that can be filled with, or emptied of water. In
fact all sailing clothing and equipment used by the crew must be "water
shedding
15. Centre boards, rudder stocks, rudders, sails, mast and rigging cannot be
changed or altered during a regatta or series from those that were used
for the first race of that competition unless damaged and unable to be
repaired in time for the start of the next race and only then can they be
replaced with "like" equipment and only then with the approval of the
race committee.
16. Two sets of sails can be measured and approved for use by the race
committee for an event but the first set of sails used for the first race
shall be the set used for that entire competition, the second set can only
be used in the case of irreparable damage to that first set and only then
with the approval of the race committee.
17. The sail shall not be a rigid or semi rigid, articulated
type "wing", but the more "conventional" rigid or (semi
rigid) mast (or "wing" mast not exceeding 30% of the
total sail/mast area) with a "soft" sail attached to its aft
edge.
18. To be eligible to compete at a state, national, or international class
event, a "12 square metre class" catamaran must be registered with the
International 12 Square Metre, 4.3 Council. Similarly the crew have to be financial
members of that council at the time of the competition.

Thanks Daryl

It is always good to research existing information and history of a particular class type .

Would agree with this more defined limited 14 class type of definition based on the similar outline Bob proposed with a min boat weight ,--but only applied to existing production 14s over 230LBs --

The fun aspect of the 14s for many others wishing to fold up huls or build a more experimental type craft is the smaller size being less expensive and having the enjoyment of creating something unique fun and enjoying the process ,inspite of race finish .

Think the 14 class will eventually have to have a production boat oriented class -with more detailed rules and definitions as you posted --and a sub category 14 open -unlimited class for the lightweight designs-

In early decades here in the Northern U S great lakes area there were a number of cat sailors that built their own A class cats --{fold up plywd. } 150 lbs -total - and latter went to the 18 sq meter class ,with cell core and foam building -vacume bagging etc --in the 80s ,--
The thinking was the larger 18 sq size with more open unlimited rules had a wider appeal to more sailors .

We would race all Sat ,--then sit around the Bar BQ -KEG and campfire until the early morning hours talking about future boat designs ,--new rudder systems ,--lifting foils -- tilting sail plans ,--planning hulls -etc -etc -
really great times .

This 14 class hopefully will provide both ---A fun development type class ,----and a good economical production oriented class for fair equal racing on very similar 14s -- both in a 14 class .