New Development Classes

This was getting interesting, but I don't agree with the restrictions you propose above - what would be the point in restricting sail type for instance. I think Jim has it about right. Other big issues might include materials . Carbon, epoxy, kevlar etc are not the usual domain of the mass builders so allowing them, whilst desirable in many ways, may limit their participation. Sails with a Carbon scrim are a fraction of the weight of standard and if allowed would give an immediate advantage regardless of other factors. Plenty of food for thought - and I think you'll have a hard time getting any major builders to join in, not least as they could be frightened of not coming up with the best design / materials / rig / sailors and thus getting a reputation as slow / poor / rubbish etc - too much to lose, too little to gain.

I wish you luck but as they say on the Dragons Den, 'I won't be investing'

Sorry SS, I see where you are coming from, but I agree with JimC on this. There's only so much rig innovation that can be applied to a single hull as the mast and centreboard positions are fixed. There is less incentive for Topper and Laser (for example) to make identical hulls and leave it to the mast makers and sail makers to innovate.  You end up with the fireball, 47o etc.

Some restrictions I would like to see include banning fixed rudders, limiting the rig to a single set of spreaders (maybe diamonds as well), and limitations on the depth/aspect ratio of foils.  I also agree with earlier comments that excess tippyness should be avoided, perhaps by setting a minimum waterline beam or metacentric height (which is a function of beam squared and is indicitive of initial stability).

I think you are missing the point I have been trying to make. The hull design would be owned by the class - not a single manufacturer. Therefore several manufacturers could build class hulls. For people that wanted an off the shelf product the manufacturers could differentiate themselves by the innovations they brought out in other areas of the boat - rigs, foils, control lines etc. 

All of these benefits apply to the model I have proposed as well.

Unless people are very smart with rules open development on the hull will lead to fast but extreme designs which will limit the appeal of the class.

Surely the way to go is to fix the hull shape and allow innovation in the other areas. Maybe to get some initial numbers selected SMOD hulls could be grandfathered into the class?