The "A" class rules and regulations are always "under review" and any new innovation is looked at, on a internatonal global level, discussed at length, either put up for approval, or discarded, if put up, voted on, accepted into the class or else rejected. Theirs is a system that has served them extremely well for 40 odd years and has kept the class active and progressive (even through the times of depression within the sailing community) They rejected "solid winged sails/mast" when there was quite a strong move in that direction, and it has proved to be the right decision for the class, as well as countless other minor and majour changes. I am quite sure that they have viewed the "International 14'" (formally 14' skiff's in Australia) very closely as that class has embraced the "T" foil on a variable angled rudder that has enhanced their performance considerably (the foil has also been used on their dagger board and the final configuration still has to be evolved) The moths are another class that uses a full lifting foil on their dagger board which lifts the hull completely out of the water (but is usually sailed without foils when the wind gets up a bit, as one champion moth sailor said "it isn't pretty ditching a moth travelling at 25 to 28 knots in 15 knots of wind, and it hurts!" Personally it would surprise me greatly if the "A" class cats incorporated foils into the class when they perform so well now as well as so close to the "edge".
Darryl J Barrett