The "Australis" A cat was once proposed as a Olympic boat.. The idea was rejected by the A cat association in the 60s or was it 70s..

The 49er was designed to be the Olympic boat from day 1. Just a good lobbying and marketing push saw it in.. I'm fairly certain the whole SMOD idea for Olympic classes was Bethwaites idea. As I recall the class wasn't that big when it was selected. It helped that "Monkey" Bethwaite set up a series of manufacturers to build a few hulls in various continents to ensure "International" compliance day one.

As I read the "International class rules" even the F16 would now qualify for official ISAF International status!! Apart from we are a strange bunch of owners and I suspect the class would reject the "honour"..