Tornado crews now in Auckland training for the Worlds starting on 23rd Feb
Some very interesting set ups on the top boats especially Mainsheet systems.
I have photos should any one want to see them
Please email tvcam@xnet.co.nz if you do

Ron Heydon
( Go Gecko )

Ohope Beach
Whakatane NZ

I suspect everyone will be interested in the photos. Suggest you post them or if there are a lot stick them on somewhere like flickr. If you're not sure how, email them to me and I can do it. mark dot thomson at ieee dot org.

I just got back from Auckland on Thursday. Was really hoping to be there to see the Worlds, but my work situation forced me back to the US early. Great venue, though February is not the most reliable month for decent wind.

Mark.

i'll be missing it the other way, don't arrive in auckland until a few days after it finishes...hope the t-shirts will be cheap by then:o(

Setting off on Saturday and looking forward to jumping back on a big T again.

So you got a ride or charter?

Good Luck!

Looking at the attendance list, I was intrigued to see that Rex Sellars (NZL) is competing - the '84 Tornado Olympic gold and '88 silver medalist. His son Brett is also sailing.

Cheers, got a ride skippering for a guy from the UK. Met him for the first time a week and a half ago where he crewed for me in the F18 Nationals. Stuggled to click as a team and will need to do a lot of training in NZ but will be happy to make up the numbers. Could have been following it from the wrong side of the Tasman.

he's from the uk, you're from glebe

where's the boat from?

has he shipped his tornado but forgotten and then his regular crew pulled the pin?

Boat from UK - Carbon rigged Marstrom

Owner / crew is Stuart Offer from this forum.

well we'll be rooting for you boys, be sure to keep us as up to date as possible

and if you get obstructed on the water no taking out your frustrations on the boat!(that's what the crews for)

you tornado guys have to show those A-cat types you're a class act;o)

Opening cermony tonight, Sunday Practice race with race one on Monday.

Unfortunatly my crew (boat owner) injured his back at the AUS F18 Champs just before heading over to NZ and is having a lot of trouble getting in and out on trap. Is getting plenty of Physio but still not looking good. So far I have been working the main and trapping down wind and trying our best not to come last. If his back does not improve, we may have to pull the pin.

Yesterday and today were blowing upto 40 knots with gusts to 50 from the NE. Tomorrow will ease to 30 gusting 40 before droping later that evening. Then swing Westerly (offshore) for Monday at about 15 knots with seas dropping. So looks like the Practice race on Sunday may not be happening.

However the windsurfers are having a ball

Stephen

Say hi to Stu for me.

Shame about his back. I know he was really looking forward to this event...

A link to a TVNZ report on the Worlds can be found on the bottom left of the following page -

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_sub_cat_skin/sport_other_sports_index_group

I don't expect the link will remain there for much longer, but the following may still work after it has gone -

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1594568

Ouch. I feel his pain. Literally: my back pull from the Tornado Nationals 3 years ago resurfaced for the first time yesterday when I was (GASP!) taking off my socks. (*Blush*)

Send him my well wishes, and some Advil and Soma while you are at it. (They work for me, anyway.) I hope it's nothing serious.

--Glenn

I'm having difficulty getting through to the regatta website, but here is a NZ Herald article on the first day's results -

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10494531

Germans Roland Gaebler and Gunnar Struckman leading from Lovell/Ogletree and Booth/Nieuwenhuis. Bundock/Ashby are 19th.

Good coverage on the ITA website: http://tornado.org/html/news_article.asp?ArticleID=282

perhaps you should wear lighter socks?

(Hope you feel better!)

Pics Link: http://www.takapunaworlds.org/index.cfm?Nid=42023&RequestTimeOut=180

Go Canada!!!

Al

Oi!! Looks like Lovell/Ogletree had a breakdown today?! 29 and a DNF... Ouch. Bundy's on the move - biggest jump with a pair of deuces for the day. Can't wait for the story.

Link to race photos

http://www.oceanphotography.co.nz/Feb%2008/25-02-08/index.htm