If somebody had said last spring that I'd have the chance to compete in the A Class Nats, F16 Worlds and Tornado Nats I wouldn't have believed them. However, due to a friends mis-fortune I stepped off the safety boat and onto a Tornado last Sunday. The wind was 15-20 knots and although I had most of my usual sailing gear on my footwear didn't make for safe and comfortable trapezing. I survived upwind but downwind was out of the question. I didn't need to worry for too long as on our second beat of the second race the forestay snapped, compression strut disintegrated and the all carbon snuffer/pole snapped in half. Luckily due to the great generosity of the competitors we found and fixed enough spare parts to be out racing again on Monday morning. 3, 3 lap races in 10-12 knots and flat sea's. A great days racing. Tom Phipps and Jon Cook won the event but an ex F16 sailor Aaron Young and Bob Butterfield came second a great result as Tom is an RYA sponsored sailor. In the attached photo I was crewing 439 currently lying in 3rd place with Tom in 1st John Ready 2nd, Aaron 4th. More photo's can be found on the Mumbles YC Website; http://www.mumblesyachtclub.co.uk

Hey, that is great. What is your impression of the Tornado compared to the F16s? That would be fun to hear for an old Tornado "maniac" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aaron and Rob are *really* fast with this damn Tornado. They have the annoying habit of lapping every single other cat on the course at least once when they show up for Wednesday racing during the summer!

You lucky bugger!

This will sound stupid but there's not a lot of difference. The T has a bigger rig to suit the bigger platform, the F16 has smaller rig/platform and both are reasonably light. The T does cut through the sea with ultimate ease where as the F16 does tend to ride over it but there again the F16 tacks so much quicker. Downwind, dispite the T being that much faster the general feeling in boat handling and behavior is much the same, you probably get a few more seconds grace with the T when the gusts hit to react but not a lot.
The sheet loads are a bit heavier on the T and upwind in the lulls you had to make sure to dump the main a fair bit to prevent the leech hooking (something I probably don't do often enough on the F16). I was really getting into the T after just a few laps and given the choice of any 2up beach Cat it would probably be my favourite if not for the hassle of transporting and boat park space required.
I'm sure it wont take long for you to make the transition from T to F16 which, has to be said is not to dissimilar to the difference between single handing a F16 compared to an A Class. 'Things' happen quicker whilst turning corners on an A Class.
I'm sure Aaron could be more explicit on this topic as he has really settled into Tornado racing and his speed, tactics downwind was just great to watch. Aaron & Bob were the only team to beat Tom & Jon in a race which was an achievement in itself.

Mark,

I assume you were crewing?

I sailed (helmed) a Tornado for a weekend during the summer; I'd agree the sheet loads are higher and the boat tacks and gybes much more slowly.

I also found the T very satisfying to sail, and things do happen more slowly (which can be nice at times!!!!). There is also someone to talk to!!!!

The T appears to be a very solid paltform and tracks well, but this is no doubt a function of size and 60 more KG in the boat.

The boat is blisteringly quick upwind; and a fast down wind. Very stable and with a very refined rig.

I'd agree with Mark that the T would be the weapon of choice if I had a decent adult crew and wanted to sail 2 up.

When a gust graces a T, it accelerates more than heals due to its beam. F16 and A class are a lot flightier..... tends to heal more before it accelerates.

It is very easy to stop an A class due to it's lighter weight. You have to concentrate more on maintaining speed.

The Tornado can be pushed a lot harder downwind in a breeze and is a real armchair ride compared to the F16 and A.

When our Tornado fleet jumped ship to F18s we were all cart wheeling on the bear aways as we drove them around the top mark like a T.

By the way, min weight for the Tornado is 155 kg. Not bad for a glass 20 footer.

(My F16 experience is based on T4.9)

Want to move to OZ Scooby <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The T is the finest boat I have ever sailed (which includes the Super Taipan) and I would not object to having another one.......... If I had a regular crew or skipper.

You knever know; If I don;t find a job in the next 6 months I might just do so!!!!

We should talk when you move to Mexico.

Seems like the longest move in history.... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Yep, feels like we have been in limbo for a while. Finally got a wind up date in Sydney (Wharf shuts gates on Sunday 23rd November) and I start in Vic on Monday 1st December. Gives me about a week off to move.

For myself, it has been in the making for over a year.... So it seems very close to me now.

First thing that struck me getting onto the T from F16 was how smooth everything was. Felt like a steering a ship and very balanced. Never seem to get a lot of weather or lee helm even when doing something bad.
Overall it equates to less sensation of speed even though you might be shifting.

Giving away the mainsheet (when windy) and kite sheet is still taking a bit of getting used to. Like driving a car with only the steering wheel and no accelerator pedal.

For 2-up sailing at our weight it was hard to look past the T especially given the price these days. We've got a tilting trailer so not such a hassle to travel with it.
Having said that, for me, nothing compares to the thrill of 1-up downwind on an F16 and having raced against A-cats they look good fun going uphill.

Rob, my crew, is actually interested in an F16 and I agree with what Mark P said that the transition should not be too difficult. Half a dozen capsizes later and he'd leave me crewless.

Oh yeah, that reminds me, the biggest difference I noticed with the F16 was when we binned it for the first time. Definitely hurts more. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Bigger platform, further to fly.

Still very keen on F16 and like to keep one eye on this forum for the latest goings on.