David Henshall's article

Phil Morrison - n12 

Jo Richards - n12

Mike Jackson, Hugh Webourne, David Thomas - n12

I won't list all the Antipodeans, my point was that many including Bieker, Farr, Bethwaites are the progeny of development and restricted dinghy classes, and it is the anal attention to detail in these classes that has allowed them to transfer their skills into creating some of the most exciting one design classes today.

Also, many of the uk's most successful 'Corinthian' Olympians, cut their teeth in N12's, Merlins and I14s and at least some of their speed must be attributable to their knowledge of hull shapes and foil shapes gained from these classes.

Yep, there's a fantastic list of designers who have come out of development classes, but there's other forms of thinking sailing apart from that; for example there are some old American articles where it's said that the US tradition of OD racing in heavier boats meant that they had more of a premium on the finer details of sail cut, tactics and trim than the Brits normally did. They therefore probably lead the way in those aspects of sailing, just as Elvstrom lead the way in some areas despite coming from a background of OD classes.

Is it needed? Probably yes. Eliminate the clinker rule and there's a good chance the class ends up getting split - is that any benefit? There's no shortage of non clinker boats around for those who can't bear to sail what they see as an anachronism. Merlins seem to be an amazingly vibrant and successful class, why would they want to remove a fundamental - and characteristic rule and risk that success?