In general the Marstrom Tornado wins over several F18's in the field of quality but I'm forced to say that when comparing the Tornado with BCM Cirrus F18 (current world champion) and an AHPC build F18 just three weeks ago that I'm not sure. I've seen tornado's looking worse than these two F18's did. The stiffness of the Cirrus is trully remarkable. I've sailed the recreational version when working for the sailing school for two years where it was also rented out and it did hold up really well. It took the abuse with a big smile and it felt like new after more then two years intensive use. So I think it comes down to which F18 you take , just a a marstrom Tornado is different from a Reg White Tornado.


>>Your point about the Tornado class being kind of a 'Formula light' class is a valid camparison. Lots of restrictions on the materials used, hull forms and foil shapes tough. We are voting about allowing a carbon mast this year..

Indeed more strikt in rules, that is true, but there is quite a lot them can be altered by the crews and quite a lot is altered by crews. Okay hulls and foils are rules upon but large differences can be found in sailcut and material as well as in the fittings and block if not to say trampoline layout (Centre sheeting - non center sheeting). Of course you can't make a tornado from duct tape. But a crew is allowed to enter with timber hull , epoxy hull, vinylester hull or polyester hull. And the boat maybe build privately or bij various builders therefor I consider it a formula class with a strikt rulesset.


>>Wouter: In your opinion, why should the IOC keep the Tornado and not simply replace it with the F-18's ? Wouter: In your opinion, why should the IOC keep the Tornado and not simply replace it with the F-18's ?

That is actually a very good question Nils.

If the olympic committee is really looking to cut down on sailing then my ultimate olympic class layout will look like this :

Laser 1
49-er
Soling
Mumm 30 or melges 24
Formula surfboard (freestyle and speed racing)
Formula Kite surfing (free style and speed racing)
Tornado
A-cat

And if the A-cat doesn't want to play than I would choose Formula 16 in the solo setup.

The surfboards and kite board will bring in the spectacle and the television interests. So will the 49-ers and Tornado as they as the best go fast craft. The mumm or melges will be a great team sailing class a la america's cup ; maybe this could be a match race event.

The soling will not be sailed in the match race form and only in fleet form. And the laser 1 is just the best singlehanded monohull and the least expensive route to olympic sailing.

This will be a good reflection of the sailing crossection of the world with the least amount of boats

Personally I think that both the mumm and soling class should be for mixed teams (no seperate men and women classes)

I think the A-cat is suited enough to be mixed class too. It is not like you have to have big muscles for that rig and platform.

Maybe the 49. tornado and laser 1 classes should be split into mens and womens.

If the A-cat class is replace by Formula 16 than that class will have to be a mixed class too

Wouter