Tornado Worlds Underway - San Isidro, Argentina

Four US Teams:
Lovell / Ogeltree
Daniel / Chu
Grandfield / Callen
Thinschmidt / Wierda

2 CAN Teams
1 PUR Team (Figueroa / Hernandez)

Paul Ulibarri is the PRO.

48 Entries total.

Event Web Site

I believe there may be a 5th USA team...Mark Herenden is there (I saw a pic of him at the opening ceremony).

Mike.

Tornado World Championship

4 - 10 December 2006

Location: San Isidro, Argentina.
Entries: 48 boats, 20 Nations

Day 1 - 5 December 2006

In Brief:
First race wind 6 - 9 knots, Second race wind 14 - 12 knots
Bundock/Ashby score 6 , 2
Bundock/Ashby 2nd spot overall
French Revil/Espagnon lead regatta with score of 2, 5

In Detail:

7 of the 48 Tornados that started the light SE 6-8 knots wind race were OCSs including Olympic Medalists USA John Lovell & Charlie Ogletree and NZL Aaron McIntosh & Bruce Kendall.

Double Olympic Medalists AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher lead from the start followed by number 1 ranked FRA Xavier Revil & Christophe Espagnon.
The Austrian team opened a comfortable distance to cross the line in first followed by the French.

The clean right side of the gate in the second upwind paid off for PUR Enrique Figueroa & Jorge Hernandez and NED Mitch Booth & Pim Nieuwenhis who finished 3rd and 4th consecutively.

The SE picked up and the Tornados started race 2 with a 10-12 knots breeze and gusts reaching 14 knots. After a clean start the fleet divided itself to both sides of the course.

Once again, the leader, AUS Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby, opened a good distance. Behind them the GRE team of Iordanis Paschaladis & Constantinos Trigonis and GER Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz were closely fighting for the 2nd position

On the second downwind the jib of the Ozzies came down and the lead they had wasn't enough to keep them ahead of the second, GER Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz. The Germans took the bullet, followed by the Ozzies.

The Greek team of Paschaladis & Trigonis crossed the line in 3rd, followed by ESP Javier Padron & Antonio Cuevas Mons in 4th and FRA Xavier Revil & Christophe Espagnon in 5th.

Winners of Race 1, AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher, crossed the line in 8th.

Bundock said "Despite the jib halyard breaking and us destroying our best jib we are very happy to start the series with 6 and 2. This is the best start to a regatta we have had for such a long time. We normally have to play catch up".

Ashby said "its going to be a close regatta, most of the French are fast, Hagara is always so fast in the light breeze, Polgar and the Greeks are very consistent, it will be tight and we will really have to fight for this tittle.

Top 5 after 2 races

1 FRA Xavier Revil & Christophe Espagnon 7 pts
2 AUS Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby 8 pts
3 AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher 9 pts
4 GER Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz 16 pts
5 NED Mitch Booth & Pim Nieuwenhis 16 pts

Full results and pictures at http://tornado2006.cnsi.org.ar/

Picture of Team China posted on xsracing.org. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Does not lokk windy enough for that to happed !

True, which makes it all the more impressive! I guess the expression "chineese gybe" has to come from somewhere <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, from the other pictures on the event website it looks like there was enough wind to pull it off.
http://tornado2006.cnsi.org.ar/hometornado.asp?menu=info&mitem=press

One other thing I noticed on the picture. The hulls look dirty. Dont know if it is something in the water, but it looks like it. It's good to sail in relatively clean, blue, water!


BTW: Here is Bundy and Ashby with the jib uphaul broken..

Mike,
Mark H. is crewing for Alani (CAN).

I think you mean he's crewing for Alan Dubuc. (CAN)

For you in the US, this might be of interest: http://www.destinationonedesign.com/comm...d2-db1af84be9ad


Destinationonedesign.com looks like an interesting site.. I just discovered it.

Hi all,

Good action shots,...there had to be some wind to get the boats up like that.

Hey, as a reminder, Puerto Rico is a part of the USA!

Just as California has its' own identity, so does Puerto Rico.

So, Puerto Rico in 6th, just behind Mitch Booth,...is a pretty good spot for day 1.

regards and 'go sailing' <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Bruce
St. Croix
US Virgin Islands
I17

Day 2 - 6 December 2006



In Brief:

Bundock/Ashby score 4, 2
Bundock/Ashby second overall
Breeze 10-12 knots
Hagara leads regatta by 1 point after scoring 1,3

In Detail:

Race 3 saw 10 knots at the start of the race and it was Olympic Gold Medallist Roman Hagara that got the best start at the bottom end of the line and came in from the favoured left hand side of the course to lead first around the first mark. all the leaders extended on the rest of the fleet with out many positions changing in the leading group. It was Roman Hagara first from second place of RUS Andrey Kirilyuk & Valery Ushkov, then the Spanish Toni Rivas & Fabian Escude, from the Australians Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby who finished third and fourth consecutively.

Race 4 saw the starting line crowded at the top end of the line. This drew a few casualties with a number of boats hitting the starting boat. The French #3 in the world hit the starting boat and caused enough damage to there boat they had to retire.

However, the leaders came from the bottom end of the line once again as the breeze when slightly left up the first upwind. The French Billy Besson & Arnaud Jarlegan were the leaders this time and the fleet stayed close together for two upwinds. The French increased their lead on the second downwind and had no problems taking the winning bullet. The Aussies Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby were second passing AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher on the last downwind. Hagara/Steinacher move to first overall by one point over Bundock/Ashby.

" We decided to start clean at the pin, together with the Australians, and that made all the difference", explained the winner of the race French Billy Besson. The French have jumped up to 4th overall.

The Argentineans Bronze Medallists Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola, made a come back through out the race and crossed the line in 4th, after an exciting finish head to head with Quingdao winners French Olivier Backes & Paul Ambroise Sevestre.

After a consistent performance in yesterday's races, French team Xavier Revil & Christophe Espagnon had a difficult day with a 22nd and a 24th and are now 7th overall.

Darren and Glenn are sailing with an ASHBY main and jib.
I suppose this is the debut of Glenn as a sailmaker in the Olympic arena.
Good luck!

07-12-2006 Australians Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby take over the lead


It took some time for the breeze to come in today. Race 5 was delayed in 45 minutes and started in very light conditions - SE 6-8 knots.

Spanish Javier Padron & Antonio Cuevas Mons rounded the weather mark in first after having a clean start at the RC side while the pin end of the starting line was very busy. Australians Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby rounded right behind them, took over the lead mid way down the first downwind and got the bullet of the race 1 minute ahead of second placed AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher.

" That's the first time I finished first in a Tornado Worlds", says with a big smile 4 times A-Class World Champion Glenn Ashby.

Canadians Oskar Johansson & Kevin Stittle were third and Germans Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz fourth.

Race 6 saw the breeze pick up to 12 knots and most of the fleet choosing the left side of the course to reach the weather mark. But it was local heroes Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola that rounded ahead of NED Micha Heemskerk & Herbert Derkson with a good distance between them.

The Dutch made their move on the second downwind gybing early into a pressure line to close the gap to the Argentineans, took the lead on the final upwind and won the race. Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola remain 3rd overall.

AUS Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby rounded the first mark in 9th position and fought their way back to 5th by the finish to take the overall lead.

Race 4 winners FRA Billy Besson & Arnaud Jarlegan crossed the line in 3rd.

AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher got themselves into trouble on the starting line, started in the second row, and finished 33rd.

" Its fantastic to lead the regatta at the mid way point but the biggest advantage for us is to be the only boat not to have a drop race in the 20's. This will be a huge advantage as the regatta goes on", explains Bundock.

The youngest sailor in the fleet, British Christopher Rashley, will turn 18 tomorrow, the lay day. He and his crew Marcus Lynch are currently holding the 32nd position.

"I started sailing Tornados seriously 6 months ago. I sail Formula 18 but the Tornado is the Olympic catamaran class and that's where I want to be. It is an amazing boat and this Championship is an excellent opportunity to learn and gain experience. If I could choose my Birthday present it would be to win a race in this event", smiles Rashley, ready to celebrate his Birthday at tonight's Barbecue.

Top 5 after 6 races (1 discard)

1 AUS Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby 14 pts
2 AUT Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher 15 pts
3 ARG Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola 33 pts
4 GER Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz 34 pts
4 GRE Iordanis Paschaladis & Constantinos Trigonis 43 pts

Here I go putting the jinx on my friends but what the hell ....

The North American teams have

Enrique Figueroa & Jorge Hernandez in 13th.
Robbie Daniel and Gary Chu are tied with Oskar Johansson & Kevin Stittle for 21 and 22 with Johnny and Charlie a bit further back in 26th place.

Two more races to go... Bundock and Asbby are dominating in the moderate stuff another (first and second). The light air wizards Hagara and Steinachar have dropped back a bit and are in second.

5 French teams remain in the top 11... Now that's a team!

Does Puerto Rico fall under a North American title, when in fact the island is in the Carribbean?

It looks like Bundy / Gashby do not have to race the last day now to win........

In Brief:
Bundock/Ashby score 1, 2.
Bundock/Ashby have a 13 point lead over Austrians Hagara/Steinacher
Breeze 10 knots increasing to 12 knots for the second race
Spectator fleet of over 100 boats watch today's racing.
In Detail:

The day started with a light offshore gradient breeze that slowly died away to the building sea breeze. Winners for the day were AUS - Bundock/Ashby and ARG - Lange/Espinola both scoring a 1 and 2. The first race saw ARG- Lange/Espinola lead Bundock/Ashby for 2 laps and Bundock/Ashby passing Lange/Espinola on the final upwind. The second race of the day saw a complete roll reversal with Lange/Espinola taking revenge and passing Bundock/Ashby on the final upwind.

Roman Hagara had a bad start in the first race after doing a little match racing with Bundock/Ashby, Hagara broke free of the Australians cover to move down the line, unfortunately the bottom end of the line was crowded and Hagara got caught up. Allowing the Australian pair to reach down the line again and roll the Austrian pair seconds after the start. Hagara recovered well to get back to 11th by the finish.

The Australians now lead the Austrians by 13 points going into the final day. Argentinean heroes Lange/Espinola trail the Austrians by only 6 points. The Greek team of Paschaladis/Trigonis have had a very consistent second stage of the regatta to crawl back to 5th position.

Bundock said "today was the make or brake day. We went for it on the starting line and probably had the two best starts of the day. We were able to get clear off the line and could sail our own race. We have still two races to go but now I life is a little easier after todays results."

Ashby commented "it was disappointing not to win both races as we were so close, but in hind-sight it was probably the best thing for the sport with the Argentines winning the last race in front of so many spectator boats. The crowds went ballistic. I have never seen a sailing spectator fleet like this before"

Tomorrow is the final day with two races scheduled starting at 1 pm and a final start time of 3pm.

Pl B# Sail # Crew Tot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 7 AUS8 Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby 17 (6) 2 4 2 1 5 1 2
2 16 AUT3 Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Stein acher 30 1 8 1 3 2 (33) 11 4
3 43 ARG1 Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola 36 7 (23) 8 4 12 2 2 1
4 2 GER7 Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz 53 15 1 (28) 10 4 4 4 15
5 21 GRE7 Lordanis Paschaladis & Constantinos Trigonis 59 (31) 3 13 7 9 11 5 11
6 3 FRA7 Yann Guichard & Alexandre Guyader 74 9 (31) 14 18\RDG 6 16 6 5
7 15 FRA5 Billy Besson & Arnaud Jarlegan 77 10 (21) 15 1 18 3 21 9
8 1 FRA1 Xavier Revil & Christophe Espagnon 83 2 5 22 24 11 7 12 (26)
9 27 FRA11 François Morvan & Matthieu Vandame 85 8 29 9 15 10 6 8 (31)
10 4 ESP1 Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz 87 11 13 12 22 7 19 (26) 3

Bundock and Ashby win 2007 Tornado World Championship

Beijing Olympic Sailing medal aspirants Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby have finished off their first season together in fantastic form winning the Olympic Tornado World Championship in San Isidro Argentina with a race to spare.

It was the sixth major regatta the pair have won since joining forces together for the first time as a Olympic combination just 13 months ago to race the Tornado Catamaran class at the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

Bundock has won five of the last nine Tornado World Championships and is now only one world championship behind retired sailor John Forbes, who Bundock partnered to four Tornado Championships in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

For Ashby this is the first world championship in the Olympic class which will add to his string of four World Championships in the International A-Class and the two Formula 18 World Championships that Ashby and Bundock have won together.

The pair set there sights on claiming three world championships in three different classes during 2006 but narrowly fell short after claiming the ISAF World Sailings Games in Austria in May but unfortunately finished second in the 2006 Formula 18 World Championships in France in mid July.

Bundock said "the focus the whole year has been on this world championship. This is the one we wanted and despite previously winning four times before this one means a lot after the effort and preparation for this championship."

Bundock continued "A lot has got to be said for our coach Mike Fletcher he has coached me to five world championships now in the Olympic Class and coached Mitch Booth and John Forbes to one before I came along. His persistence before this regatta with getting our trimming techniques and speed right has probably won the regatta for us".

An elated Ashby said "Its great to win my first Tornado World Championships in relatively light conditions and finish with a score card consistently in the top six. Its a added bonus and a great feeling to win with sails I made myself"

Fletcher commented "The pairs decision making skills this week has won the regatta for them, yesterday they made some of the best decisions when under pressure. On the starting line they knew when to push and when it was getting crowded and the risk was high to back out and find another hole. Decisions like that win world championships. Yesterday they showed the world they wanted this World championship".

Tornado Alive: Thanks for posting this stuff - I've really enjoyed following the event.

Chris.