Tornado (sailboat)
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| Current Specifications | |
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 Class Symbol |
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| Crew | 2 (twin trapeze, since 2000) |
| LOA | 6.09 m (20.0 ft) |
| LWL | 5.84 m (19 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 3.08 m (10 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 0.15 m (6 in) 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in) |
| Hull weight | 155 kg (340 lb) (boat weight) 6.3 kg (14 lb) (mast tip weight) |
| Mast height | 9.08 m (29 ft 9 in) |
| Mainsail area | 16.61 m2 (178.8 sq ft) |
| Jib / Genoa area | 5.33 m2 (57.4 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 25.00 m2 (269.1 sq ft) |
| D-PN | 59 |
| Infobox last updated: 15-MRT-2010 [1] | |
| Former Olympic Class | |
The Tornado is an double handed multihull class recognised as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation. It was used for the Olympic Catamaran discipline for over 30 years.
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[edit] Background
The boat was designed in 1967 by Rodney March of Brightlingsea, England, with help from Terry Pierce, and Reg White, specifically for the purpose of becoming the Olympic catamaran. At the IYRU Olympic Catamaran Trials, it easily defeated the other challengers.
To increase its performance even further, the Tornado was modified in 2000, with a new sail-plan which included a Spinnaker and Spinnaker boom, as well as an increased sail area of the existing sails. An additional trapeze was also added, and the jib was made self tacking.
The Tornado typically flies one of its two hulls; the crew balancing the boat with their own weight and by controlling the sails. With only one hull in the water, drag is significantly reduced. The Tornado also features an adjustable, rotating mast, which not only greatly improves the aerodynamics of the crucial leading edge of the sail, but also allows improved control over mast bend and thus mainsail flatness. For the high speeds and apparent wind directions seen by this high speed vessel, a flat sail profile is often required.
The Tornado is still among the fastest double handed catamarans, with an ISAF Small Catamaran Handicap Rating System rating of 0.934, and some have characterized the Tornado class as "the Formula One of sailing".
[edit] Events
[edit] Olympics
The Tornado was used as the as equipment for the multihull discipline in the Olympic Games from 1976 through 2008, when multihulls were deselected. Please see the individual years for results Olympic Sailing Regatta
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[edit] Open World Champions
[edit] Mixed World Champions
First held in 2011
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
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 2011, Biel |
 Roland Gäbler (GER) Nahid Gäbler (GER) |
 Nicole SALZMANN (AUS) Dietmar SALZMANN (AUS) |
 Martin SALZMANN (SUI) Julia Rusterholz (SUI) |
[edit] External links
- The Tornado design official class rules
- International Tornado Association
- THE STORY OF THE TORNADO
- VIDEO OF THE TORNADO
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tornado (catamaran) |
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