Multihull - Tornado

International Tornado Class Catamaran was designed by Rodney MARCH (GBR) in the autumn of 1967, and it gained its Olympic Games status from the IYRU (now ISAF) after winning a selection regatta in Brightlingsea, England.

The Tornado became the first multihull event sailed in an Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada in 1976.

This worldwide class became turbocharged following extensive evaluation trials and tests in 1999. The eventual outcome was that the Tornado was reselected for the 2004 Olympic Games but with some major changes which were to be developed and implemented by the Class. The final adjustments included the addition of a second trapeze, larger upwind sail area, and an asymmetric to an already powerful catamaran.

The boats are strong, stiff and universally competitive and reflect the ability of the sailor rather than technological innovations. The International Tornado Class Association continues to grow.

Name	International Tornado
Country of Origin	England, Great Britain
Length overall	6.1m
Beam	3m
Sail Area	20.7sqm
Designed By	Rodney MARCH (GBR)
Designed In	1967
Current Class Rules	http://www.sailing.org/classes/classrules/2005/TOR2005_CR_010605.pdf
Class Association	http://www.tornado.org
Granted International Status	1970
First selected for the Olympic Games	For the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, CAN
Current World Champions	Fernando ECHAVARRI & Anton PAZ (ESP) - 2007
1976 Olympic gold medallists	Reginald WHITE & John OSBORN (GBR)
1980 Olympic gold medallists	Alexandre WELTER & Sigurd BJORKSTROM Lars (BRA)
1984 Olympic gold medallists	Rex SELLERS & Christopher TIMMS (NZL)
1988 Olympic gold medallists	Jean-Yves le DEROFF & Nicolas HENARD (FRA)
1992 Olympic gold medallists	Yves LODAY & Nicolas HENARD (FRA)
1996 Olympic gold medallists	Fernando LEON & Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP)
2000 Olympic gold medallists	Roman HAGARA & Hans Peter STEINACHER (AUT)
2004 Olympic gold medallists	Roman HAGARA & Hans Peter STEINACHER (AUT)