The Tornado is a double handed multihull class recognised as an International Class by World Sailing. It was used for the Catamaran discipline at the Olympic Games from 1976 to 2008.
Design
The boat was designed in 1967 by Rodney March from the Isle of Sheppey, England. At the IYRU Olympic Catamaran Trials for international status, where it defeated other catamarans.
To increase its performance even further, the Tornado was modified in 2001, 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 is among the fastest double handed catamarans, with an ISAF Small Catamaran Handicap Rating System rating of 0.934 and a D-PN of 59.0. It is the fastest catamaran in the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme, with a 2015 Portsmouth Number of 634.
Events Olympics The Tornado was used as the 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 1976 Montreal Great Britain (GBR)Reginald WhiteJohn Osborn United States (USA)David McFaullMichael Rothwell West Germany (FRG)Jörg SpenglerJörg Schmall
1980 Moscow Brazil (BRA)Lars Sigurd BjörkströmAlexandre Welter Denmark (DEN)Peter DuePer Kjergard Sweden (SWE)Göran MarströmJörgen Ragnarsson
1984 Los Angeles New Zealand (NZL)Rex SellersChris Timms United States (USA)Randy SmythJay Glaser Australia (AUS)Christopher CairnsJohn Anderson
1988 Seoul France (FRA)Jean Le DeroffNicolas Hénard New Zealand (NZL)Chris TimmsRex Sellers Brazil (BRA)Lars GraelClinio Freitas
1992 Barcelona France (FRA)Yves LodayNicolas Hénard United States (USA)Randy SmythKeith Notary Australia (AUS)Mitch BoothJohn Forbes
1996 Atlanta Spain (ESP)Fernando LeónJosé Luis Ballester Australia (AUS)Mitch BoothAndrew Landenberger Brazil (BRA)Lars GraelHenrique Pellicano
2000 Sydney Austria (AUT)Roman HagaraHans-Peter Steinacher Australia (AUS)Darren BundockJohn Forbes Germany (GER)Roland GäblerRené Schwall
2004 Athens Austria (AUT)Roman HagaraHans Peter Steinacher United States (USA)John LovellCharlie Ogletree Argentina (ARG)Santiago LangeCarlos Espínola
2008 Beijing Spain (ESP)Antón PazFernando Echávarri Australia (AUS)Darren BundockGlenn Ashby Argentina (ARG)Santiago LangeCarlos Espínola
World Championships
Open
Mixed
See also List of multihulls
References
External links
International Tornado Association ISAF Tornado Microsite