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.[1]
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.[1]
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.[2] It is the fastest catamaran in the RYAPortsmouth Yardstick scheme, with a 2015 Portsmouth Number of 634.[3]
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
^"Portsmouth Number List 2015"(PDF). Royal Yachting Association. 2015. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-27. For any catamaran classes that do not appear on this list but that have a published SCHRS number on http://www.schrs.com/ratings.php it is possible to use a conversion factor of 675 as agreed between the Portsmouth Yardstick Group and SCHRS Technical Committee. To convert from SCHRS to PY, simply multiply the SCHRS number by 675 e.g: Tornado = 0.939(SCHRS) x 675 = 634 (PY) If using the conversion factor please return results to http://www.pys.org.uk using the correct class designation.{{cite web}}: External link in |quote= (help)
