When is a sprit not a sprit?

[Danelaw]

In 50 years of racing in GB, I have never seen a perversion of a rule than the decision to let a boat with a bow sprit enter in a conventional pole class. Sprit boats definitely have an edge racing on short legged courses. Boats with retrofitted sprits already carry no penalty on their base rating, and carry kites with greater sail area. If our aim is to minimize skew in handicap racing, I implore PHRF GB and local race pros to revisit this misguided decision. 

Respectfully

Roy