As for the comments on being an Open class and the fear of an arms war developing. I can tell you with a fair amount of experience that although there are a few who can spend what seems like an unlimted amount on a design. That number is very small and we have seen time and time again that the biggest budgets do not guarantee victory in a ocean race. The bulk of the interest to date has come from people who are looking for a cost-effective design or already have a boat that fits within the rule. The Open 30 concept gives people who are interested in short handed sailing an alternative that has not been previously available to them.
Sailing is an ever-expanding sport.
We should promote that growth, and give people the choice. In a level class, development is the name of the game and the owner's, designer's, and builder's ability to develop a better boat is at least on par with the test of the sailor's skills. The science of both yacht design and rule making have advanced such that it is very difficult for a good handicap rule to produce a good level class. A more basic rule focused on a size and purpose, will produced a better development class. A few common sense rules will make level boats equal enough to race and more practical, but still allow avenues for development.