"In the end, it was compeling 2 weeks of training and racing against the best in the country vying for a spot on the 2008 Olympic Sailing Team to represent USA in Quindao, China. The drivers alone in the top 3 had 16 years combined racing together at a low average of 70 days a year racing, and another 20 plus in coaching. Thousands of hours testing and training to use this block or that line or this sail with only those battens in these 5 conditions....only etc. Just when you think that, "this" is "the" way to rig the boat or drive the boat...someone else says otherwise and has 40 hours of sailing and testing to prove it. And that comes from most of the teams during both Tornado events. With the top speed groove in the Tornado so small and at times so hard to find, there is very little forgiveness by the fleet when you are not in it...at times, that "out-the-groove" moment is just paralyzingly scarely. But when it is there, and you finish close to the pack...Wow, you now know, what fast really feels like; and it isn't always about pure speed. " - Mark Herendreen

Took the liberty of borrowing this from another forum. After all the preparation, his boat was damaged by a seal! WTF!

I didn't want to (continue to) hijack another thread. To be succinct: How fast is your boat? It is proportional to your committment.

In our sport there is much discussion of technological advancement and less notice paid to the increased skill of the sailors. I believe there is a cumulative effect over time. Or is it just a coincidence that our 10 time national Tornado Champions are coached by a 9 time champion? Probably not.

btw- I was just looking at some footage of this years Texel, and it looked like line honors went to a Tornado with dacron sails. Can anyone confirm?