You have an interesting problem. I'm the author of the piece in
WoodenBoat last summer about the Birdwatcher, longer than you like but
lighter (800 lbs) and awfully easy to trailer, launch and retrieve, and
tremendous fun to use. Good sailer too. You don't like the looks or the
slap, no doubt. Sam Devlin's Nancy's China or Wren? A Sabot? Do you get
Boat Design Quarterly? You'd find good ideas in back issues--boats by
Paul Gartside, for instance. Good luck. Mason Smith