>> Rules were changed to allow more money into the sport, and therefore more money was required, etc., etc.
>> Is there some kind of pattern emerging here?

Possibly, but Fay's litigious approach was not appreciated so rules were changed to make future competitions more predictable and affordable. More recently the "one design" rules again limited the ability to throw money at it to secure a win. Let nobody accuse Ellison or the Yanks of wanting to lock in their own $$$ advantage when they held the reins! But there's no getting away from the cost of building a $10m fiberglass boat. Nothing elitist about it, that's what it costs to build a boat of that size, lightness and durability. I suppose you could go back to more affordable wooden clinkers with canvas sails, but that's not as exciting as seeing these boats literally flying along relying on the instincts of the skipper and strategist to catch every extra puff of wind. Amazing stuff.