Welcome to the pensioners' club, Arne
A tender tender vs a stiffer tender...
I'd go for the sailing version because
1. The competition calls for a sailing dinghy and I think you might have found the perfect tiny rig.
2. It will have more initial stability and feel more comfortable to get in and out of, especially for people not used to dinghies.
3. It will still row just about as well. 8' is too small for a proper rowing boat anyway
(I suppose 1. and 3. arguments could just as well be reversed. And I suppose the rowing version might actually be the best sailer, if you don't mind sitting right in the bottom of the boat. However, 2. argument is strong, and clinches it for me - I'd go for the shallow-dish version for an 8-foot tender, every time.)
Question: The rowing version is only narrower on the WL when light - once loaded down, the sailing version will be better anyway, won't it?
Congratulations on a proposed sailing dinghy that is starting to look seriously practical - AND not something that already exists.