Wouter
I agree, No Olympic athlete would want less then a high performance boat. The last multihull trials... the top sailors loved the M20. They kept the Tornado.
BUT a strategic decision must be made by the Multihull leadership with an eye to the future. If more countries don't play... the multi will be out again.
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.
I agree the critical issue is world wide participation. Figuring out what the critical factors are to promote this outcome is key.
Cheap and popular is the obvious one but may simply negatively correlate with why countries don't get their sailors into high performance boats.
Personally, I think the key selling point is that the field is wide open... No established powers... indeed if the gals drive... just one country has a jump on the world.
Provide an equipment package that costs no more then the 29ner XX and you might grow the number of nations competing. Cross training programs could also leverage a small countries dollars.
Out of the box thinking is needed.... What is needed is to pick a boat and a GROWTH PROGRAM.
I assume that the Growth potential for elite world wide competition strongly supported by the rank and file will be a decisive factor.
Take your best shot... What program of incentives. (Manufacture provided boats??) World Wide Popularity and Growth potential, Hardware, Class regulation will hit the sweet spot.
