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. Said to be capable of speeds above 30 knots (56 km/h) reaching, and 18 knots (33 km/h) 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: The Tornado sail-plan was changed in 2000, and now consists of: - Mainsail, 17 m²
- Jib, 7 m², self-tacking
- Spinnaker, 25 m²
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