The Tornado is an olympic class sailing catamaran, and has been in the Olympics since 1976. It 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 Catmaran Trials, it easily defeated the other challengers.

Capable of speeds above 30 knots reaching, and 18 knots upwind, the Tornado class is often characterized as "the formula 1 of sailing".

Some features:

• LOA[?]: 6.1 m
• Length waterline: 5.84 m
• Beam: 3.08 m
• Draught (centre boards retracted/extended): 0.15 / 0.76 m
• Mast: 9.4 m
• Weight: 130 - 145 kg fully rigged
• Trapeze (double since 2000)

The original Tornado sail-plan:

• Main sail, 15.6 m²
• Jib, 5.4 m²

The Tornado sail-plan was changed in 2000, and now consists of:

• Main sail, 17 m²
• Jib, 7 m², self-tacking
• Spinnaker[?], 25 m²

External links

• International Tornado Association (http://tornado.tc/)
• THE STORY OF THE TORNADO (http://tornado.tc/articles/tstory.htm)