Sure, but don't Tornado's have a longer pole length?

Correct, and it also looks like the T's run their poles a bit lower too. The kite also has a bit more roach.

Yeah !

What do you think is more efficient ?

Luff length or foot length ?

Wouter

Luff length of course, we all know that..

A longer pole, mounted lower, does give a longer luff. I dont know if the T alu mast would have been able to hold a larger spi, fitted higher on the mast, without breaking.

But, Wouter. There has been posted some new information from the NA's on the tornado.org website. The breakage of the Tornado mast is now explained. The boat went over, turtled, and the water was so shallow that the mast hit the bottom. Wave action then broke the mast.
The results from the regatta is available on the Miame OCR site. I dont think any comparable data will be available on alu vs. carbon before the worlds in june. Interesting that the pro's present in Miami all had alu masts.

The video available was excellent, altough the person talking suffered from a severe case of '49er brainwashing' claiming that the 49'ers gave the Tornados a run for the money .


Rolf

Do you have links to all those things ?

Which mast broke ? Alu or carbon ? Did a carbon masted Tornado Turtle ?

Wouter

Sure,
for a report, results and the broken (carbon) mast story
http://www.tornado.org/html/news_article.asp?ArticleID=65
Further results at:
http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/RolexMiamiOCR/2005/results/Tornado/Tornado.html

For the movie, you have to register (make sure you get the free registration) on http://www.t2p.tv/guide/ocr05.php and choose day 5 (as posted here earlier).

"Interesting that the pro's present in Miami all had alu masts."

I do not know if I am a pro or not, but Johnny and I used a Carbon rig.

Charlie Ogletree

Thanks for correcting that!

My source was the ITA website, and when I went back to double check now I realised that you was not on the list there. Hence the error, sorry..

Ref: http://www.tornado.org/html/news_article.asp?ArticleID=61

While we have you here, it would be great to hear your opinion on the new mast and its performance.

Oh, and by the way. I would definately call you Pro

Rolf

Quick update of the T Class meeting at Miami Yacht Club January 2005.

Alain Dubec (CAN) agreed to serve as the NATA class president. Alain promised to solve the communication issues the class has faced and promote the boat and class.

Yve Marie Dubec (CAN) will serve as treasurer.

John Lovell (USA) will continue to serve as auditor.

Class dues should be paid promptly.

The ITA website will serve as the NATA site using the many web tools now implemented.

Roland Gabler (GER) will coordinate a Gran Prix event (short courses lots of races) with at least one container of boats from Germany attending the event at the Houston Yacht Club. Dates are tentative and it will be in late November early December details to be determined.

Charlie Ogletree (USA) will coordinate a major 3 day international regatta at Houston Yacht Club the following week.

Boats will then be shipped to Miami for:

US Sailing will organize the OCR 5 day regatta in Miami late January (following Key West Race Week)

The NATA class will organize a major 3 day international event following a 2 day lay off during the following week in Miami.

All NOR and SI’s will be announced on the ITA site. www.tornado.org

The class members plan to attend the Catfight in Michigan in August
Other ersatz F20 events are being planned using existing regattas in the USA and Canada.

Many thanks were extended to the Miami Yacht Club for the outstanding service to the class during challenging conditions and for the many support boats for the OCR regatta.

Mark Schneider

I think the confusion here was from the North American Championship article listing the carbon mast teams (2), not the teams at the Rolex OCR which immediately followed this event. Ogletree/Lovell only took part in the OCR, while the two carbon teams from the NA's also took part in the OCR. So, we know there were at least 3 teams with the new stick in that event. If not for Lars Guck's capsize/turtle, resulting in the carbon mast break, we might have had the top three finishers all carbon masts.

Mike.

P.S. Welcome to this forum Charlie! Hope you can take the time to share your knowledge!

There is a little problem here :

If the Guck, Ogletree and Geabler teams are all on top with the carbon masts than that says very little about the carbon rigs. They are the highest ranking sailors in the participating fleet.

However when some of these teams are NOT at the top of the listing then is does say something about the carbon masts.

So while



Says very little, the following POSSIBLE occurance



Would say alot, namely that the new carbon was still inferiour to the alu rigs or that the teams are still coming to grips with the new rig.

Wouter




Wouter

DOH! *slaps forehead* You are right Mike, I need to start reading the articles instead of just browsing trough them.

Rolf, we'll forgive you since you posted the link to t2p.tv. That's just what I needed to make me look forward to spring!
Al

Hi Again,

To set the record straight there were only 3 Carbon rigs at Miami OCR; Lovell/Ogletree, Perish/Guck and Mike Grandfield. 1st place Carbon, 2nd and 3rd Aluminum.

Charlie