The discussion at the board of governors meeting was the same reason as the v-berth cushions the year before. People who cruise their boats and also race complained that the quarter-berth cushions get trashed when there is rain and wet sails are stuffed below. Example - spinnaker douse in the rain through the companionway puts lots of water on the cushions. This is similar to the rationale used when the rules change was made last year for V-berth cushions. Stuffing the wet jib in the v-berth got the cushions wet.

The consensus at the time was that this was a no-cost change that really did not change the material condition for racing the boat, and helped accommodate the desires of people in the class.