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Zhik 2024 December
Tornado

Tornado

The Tornado was designed specifically for Olympic competition and made a first Games appearance in 1976. It has become a successful international class on its own merits and enhanced by rig upgrades it remains the fastest, most spectacular of the Olympic boats. Equipped with over 49sqm of sail area, twin trapeze, and asymmetric spinnaker, the boat is capable of an incredible 30 knots. The class has seen a resurgence in the UK in the past few years with new boats being built again in the UK by Graham Eeles in Brightlingsea. The class association (UKITA) is very active - there are regular long-distance and open meetings for the the Tornado in the UK and a spectacular national championships. by Paul Mines

© Martina Barnet © Martina Barnet
in association with
in association with Selden
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Show news Tornado Europeans in Quiberon
Yoann Trécul and Thomas Ferrand retain the title
Posted on 29 Sep
The oldest footage of Tornado racing
A look back into our video archive
Posted on 12 May
Oldest videos of racing catamarans
We start in 1965, covering Hobie, Shearwater, Prindle and C Class, then the Worrell 1000
Posted on 7 Apr
UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
Unseasonably warm and fine weather for the end of September
Posted on 4 Oct 2023
Tornado Europeans at Achensee, Tyrol, Austria
A total of 25 sailors from 8 different nations came to compete for the title
Posted on 25 Aug 2023
Solent Forts Race 2023
Part of the Allen Endurance Series
Posted on 17 Jun 2023
Tornado Worlds at La Grande-Motte overall
Only one race possible on the final day
Posted on 4 Sep 2022
Tornado Worlds at La Grande-Motte day 4
Only one race was run
Posted on 3 Sep 2022
Tornado Worlds at La Grande-Motte day 3
Two more races held at La Grande Motte
Posted on 30 Aug 2022
Tornado Worlds at La Grande-Motte day 1
30 cats from 10 different nationalities taking part
Posted on 30 Aug 2022
The Forts Race 2022
Some competitors take the 'endurance' aspect a little too far
Posted on 31 May 2022
Tauranga crews dominate 2022 Tornado Nationals
Tauranga took its place as the home of the Tornado class, winning the top four overall
Posted on 13 Apr 2022
2021 Tornado Worlds at Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantinos Trigonis and Konstantinos Kazantzis win the title
Posted on 4 Oct 2021
Tornado and Formula 18 UK Nationals at Whitstable
A classic Whitstable weekend of sailing and social
Posted on 22 Sep 2021
Three-time Olympian David R Sweeney passed away
He represented Canada at three Olympic Games in the Tornado class
Posted on 21 Sep 2021
2021 Tornado Europeans at Füssen, Germany
Michaela Pavlisova & Marek Pavlis win the title
Posted on 28 Jul 2021
Bob Fisher - The second Wise and Witty Man
A key influencer in the world of sailing
Posted on 14 Jan 2021
Fear of flying
Two other crucial Fs that apparently need their own article
Posted on 31 Aug 2020
Tornado 2020 Europeans moved to 2021
Decision taken first and foremost to preserve the health and safety of all participants
Posted on 5 May 2020
Barton Marine - Ask the Expert Live
Facebook Live Q&A with Christian Brewer
Posted on 8 Apr 2020
Allen Endurance Series overall
Second edition of AES saw 150 different entries over the four events
Posted on 19 Dec 2019
New World Champions in Tornado
The final day of racing for the World Championships ended on a high note
Posted on 12 Jan 2019
Australian crew win Tornado Worlds
Brett Burvill and Max Puttman (AUS) are the new Int Tornado class world champions
Posted on 10 Jan 2019
Late seabreeze for Day 4 of Tornado Worlds
The Australian crew of Brett Burvill and Max Puttman scored two wins from the two races sailed.
Posted on 9 Jan 2019
Tornado Worlds: Images from a significant Day 3
Significant wins in both races on Day 3 of the 2019 Int Tornado Worlds
Posted on 8 Jan 2019
Tornado Worlds: Olympic form to the fore - Day 3
Day 3 of the Tornado Worlds was remarkable for the Race 6 win by Rex and Brett Sellers
Posted on 7 Jan 2019
Tornado Worlds: Front runners stumble - Day 2
The top two crews after Day 1 both falter on Day 2. Swiss are the new series leader
Posted on 6 Jan 2019
Tornado Worlds: Australia leads after Day 1
The first two races were sailed in the 2019 Tornado Worlds off Takapuna.
Posted on 5 Jan 2019
Olympic Gold medalist wins NZ Tornado Nationals
Rex and Brett Sellers team up to win NZ Tornado Nationals. Worlds start on Saturday
Posted on 4 Jan 2019
Kindly Leave the Stage
What happens to ex-Olympic classes?
Posted on 3 Dec 2018
Links
Tornado UK Nationals Attendance
see the full nationals attendance table here

Photos

Show photos from

2024 Tornado Open Europeans in Quiberon
© G Touren / SRSP
Robert Govier and David Figgis win the Whitstable YC Club Championship
© Steve Gray
Winners Simon Northrop and Megan Smith during the UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
© Ollie Northrop
Peter King and Henry Beams during the UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
© Mike Graham
Second Place Jenny and David Ball during the UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
© Mike Graham
Class Chair Robert Govier during the UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
© Mike Graham
Podium in the UK Tornado Nationals 2023 at Minnis Bay
© Adam Piggott
John Lovell - Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup
© Stuart Streuli / New York Yacht Club
Tornado European Championship 2023 at Achensee in Tyrol, Austria
© GCocco Fotografo
Tornado European Championship 2023 at Achensee in Tyrol, Austria
© GC
Tornado European Championship 2023 at Achensee in Tyrol, Austria
© GC
Tornado European Championship 2023 at Achensee in Tyrol, Austria
© GC
Tornado European Championship 2023 at Achensee in Tyrol, Austria
© GC
2023 Tornado European Championship at the Achensee
© International Tornado Association
Tornado World Championships 2022
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships 2022
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships 2022
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Tornado World Championships
© Didier Hillaire
Peter King and Henry Beams in the Forts Race 2022 at Whitstable
© Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk
Tauranga crews took the top four places overall at the 2022 Tornado Nationals
© Howick Sailing Club
2021 Tornado Championship podium
© Nikos Pantis
2021 Tornado Championship
© Nikos Pantis
2021 Tornado Championship
© Nikos Pantis
2021 Tornado Championship
© Nikos Pantis