Hey Guys,
Slow down a minute. We need alot more facts and not so much fanticy. Marstrom built a or some Tornados that weighed 100 or so pounds less than a standard Tornado and raced them in the Texel race. A standard weight Tornado won the race.
The M20 has raced in the Texel race for several years. The M20 is 130 pounds lighter in weight than a Tornado. The M20 also has a more efficient sailplan, higher aspect ratio boards and rudders, carbon mast etc, all the best. This year the M20 won the Texel race by 10 seconds over a standard Tornado. In a two hour race, that is a tie; no significant difference in boat speed.
Here's my experience with lightweight boats. In light winds a light weight boat will tiptoe away from heavier boats. Weight determines drag and lighter weight means less drag everything else being equal, a lighter boat is faster in light winds than heavier boats. Now when the wind picks up and people start getting out on the trapeze, the advantage of the light weight boat goes away. The greater righting moment and sail thrust from the heavier boats can compensate for their greater weight and things even out. In double trap conditions, I see heavier boats beating lighter weight boats; everything else being equal.
Someone really interested in this lightweight Tornado needs to get the straight story from Mastrom. Lighter isn't always faster, especially in top speed.
Bill