This I think was an interesting view. When the FD was dropped from the Olympics I threw my hands up crying that 'the most technically demanding of the dinghies was the only way to mark the pinnacle of our sport'. I have since sobered my view and it is great to see that it was indeed a positive move for the class.

My question to my fellow forum users is, what do you think is the future for the Tornado class? Will the Olympics replace it and will that be its death? Will the much celebrated (in New development class thread at least) F18 rule see it to the grave?

Nice bit of trolling

I would have to say that the Big T is as secure as any of the other Olympic classes......  May be more so.

F-18 firstly is not elegible because it is not OD.  Secondly the F-18 Association, sailors and manufactures don't want their boat associated with the Olympics....  It is working fine the way it is and is the fastest growing sailing class in the world.

The F-18 has nothing on the Tornado as far as quality, performance or technical skill required to sail it.

If any other cat was to become part of the Olympics, then it too would begin an upwardly spiral of development.....  Olympic sailors will expect their product to be of the same high standards as the Marstrom T and the new class will find itself equally expensive..........  You pay for what you get.

The only risk to the Tornado is that of sailing being dropped from the Olympics.  It would not be the death of the class, however the market for such a high performance and high quality product would not be as strong outside of the Olympic arena and I believe you would see fleet numbers drop quiet a bit.

And for the record......  I am an ex Tornado sailor that is currently racing in the F-18 class and regard it highly for what it is.  In the future, I will return to the Tornado class as I find the boat an absolute dream to sail and is unequaled to any other boat I have ever sailed, cat or mono.

No Trolling intended. As an ex tornado (sorry T) sailor you will be aware next to nobody sails them in the UK. We have a load of Darts, Hurricanes (spellin?) and a few F18's. The situation is similar to the FD before it was dropped. The class is undoubtably having a comeback and in a strong, longevid looking way. The Tornado could need just the same thing and the UK multi scene in my view needs more classes and choice to attract people over 'to the other side'.

I answer to my own question I don't think its days are numbered but in the UK at least being dropped would give it a 50/50 chance. Not being dropped at all may be less healthy for its future.

Except for the 32 teams at the Nationals !

  http://www.tornadouk.com/news/newsitem.asp?id=1&ar=146 - http://www.tornadouk.com/news/newsitem.asp?id=1&ar=146

only 11 less than the F18's

http://www.f18.org.uk/results.asp - http://www.f18.org.uk/results.asp

I thinks the T has a great future, yes it's expensive, but I'd love one in my stable of boats. 

one of the best things about the tornado is the fact there is a constant supply of hardly used sails and boats if it was not for this the cost would be far higher!

the cost may be alot for the average club racer but if you are keen to do the circuit then its a great boat because it is possible to race against the olympic champs etc in the worlds and many other races.

Sorry Bumble, The Uk Tornado fleet is the second biggest tornado fleet in the world second only to Germany. We have a full uk travellers circuit and constantly get big turnouts in the Long distance races. I will list some of the UK nobodys who sailed them in this years nationals if you like in no particular order.

Will Sunnucks (Texel Winner, several national titles, Winner of Archipelago raid and numerous other long distance races) Legend,

Andy Webb (several Uk titles in various classes) Legend,

Hugh Styles (Olympian, Laser european champion with a massive sailing CV) Legend, 

Leigh McMillan (Olympian) Future Legend

Andy Walsh (Future Olympian no doubt)

Rob Garcka (F18 National winner)

Grant Piggott (Numerous nationals winner)

Dave Pitman (former Contender World Champ)

Dave Lloyd (Dart Champion)

I could go on but im getting bored now so heres a link to http://www.tornadouk.com - www.tornadouk.com and a full list of the nationals results results below.

• Dart18        79
• Hurricane    37
• Sprint 15     37
• Tornado      20

I'm not in a location where we see many cats, and back in the UK I was only on ponds in the north. I saw alot of Darts, a few others, but I have yet to see  Tornado in full flight as it were. It is great to hear that it does have an avid (and huge maybe) following.

New Tornadoes r the dogs nadgers and as ole bumble says he's not really in a position to comment.

Tors have never had it sooo good (sweeping comment !)

I've sailed for 30 years at various clubs (only one of them a pond) and I've only ever seen one.

Aren't they a complete pain to campaign because they don't break down and are too wide to trail?

Aren't they a complete pain to campaign because they don't break down and are too wide to trail?

Nope they do brake down and then you can trail , doesn't seem to worry them that do and break down rebuild is not a lot worse than some complicated monos , in fact easier.

Tilt Trailer........  Our F-18 has one also as it is too wide for Oz roads

One of the more exotic break down trailers - overkill but if you have the $$$ then why not.

T_A,

Did you trail with the tramp in all the time?

Some years ago we had a T blow over on the trailer (while moving) with the tramp still in 

Hmm, not sure about that. Tilt trailors look an expensive and scary option (to tow) compared to going for a sail. In any case Contender sailors have mates to help.

sounds like misser contender boy "lots of m8's jackson" has a problem.

Need a ladder to get outa that hole yur diggin Jacko ?

We can get ours from the trailer, rigged to the waters edge in just over an hour and about 1/2 hour back again although not with the bikes on !!

!!!!!

Expensive - Maybe ours is about 500 pounds more expensive than a standard T Trailer but well worth the extra cash we used to have a normal box trailer and this makes it so much easier and saves wear and tear on the beam bolts (a notorious problem for most cats). 

Scary - Not from my experience, we normally tow with the jeep, but i have towed it with my gutless escort van to WPSA and no problems apart from a wheel bearing go which can happen on any trailer.

Trailered the Tornado and now F-18 with the tramp on in winds upto 40 knots.  If there is a risk of 40 + knot winds, tramp comes off.

F-18s are too wide for Australian roads and must also be tilted.

Matt, I actually perfer to trailer on the tilt as you are lifting one hull away from the traffic.  If you clash with a car.....  It is a mud guard.  The hight of it also intimidates a lot of drivers and they do not sit on the inside of you especially around bends but hang back and just look.  Just my preferance and it only takes an extra minute if that to tilt the platform.

Yes there is a little more expense to building a tilt trailer and also the extra windage involved in towing.......  But when you get out on the water there is NO SUBSTITUTE to beem.  When you are powering past all other sailboats upwind whilst fully trapped out and making them look slow.........  Then tilting just does not matter.

Thanks TornadoSi.......  Now I realy am starting to miss my T.

I have just had a new trailer built for the Capricorn based on a Tornado trailer plans but with 300 mm ( 1 foot) tilt shorter arms on the sides.  I will be looking at getting another T after the OZ 2007 F-18 Worlds and all I have to do is get new arms made up and I am good to go.

We have also had a kick a$$ box made for it that goes nearly the length of the trailer, tapering narrower towards the front with a 2 split opening doors on top which is gas strutt assisted.  Inside the box is full carpeted and I am working on making a tool board to go inside and brakets to hold rolls of ropes.

Will try and get some pics soon.

PS - My weapon of choice for towing the T / F-18 is a Jeep Cherokee also

Tornado Alive , Dont worry about missing the T - you will appreciate it even more when you step back on after a break !!!!!!

The new trailer sounds cool especially with the large box and adjustable tilt width ours will fit anything down to 8' wide so quite versatile and i totally agree about having 1 hull in the air- oncoming traffic gives you a much wider berth !!!

On ours you can get loads of kit in and even kip in it if you like !! Our box contains the following accessories - Tool Rack, Rope reel stand, Notice board, Radio, Vice etc  i will be getting round to making a canvas tent above using the tilt frames as a structure so we can work out of the elements, but the coup de gras is the photo board we have - loads of shots of the boat sailing and several motivational photos aswell and of course our girlies on there laser radials !!

Dug out some shots of the trailer being loaded onto the recovery truck after the wheel bearing gave out in france on the way home from the worlds now that was Scary !!!!

Nice to see another Jeep / Cat Combo - im trying to work out how to fit my A cat on the roof rack at the moment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

does anyone have rough sketches/sizes for one of these tilt trailers ?

In the process of buying an oldish tor sport to replace my hurricane5.9 the tor trailer requires the boat to be broken down so building a tilting job could be a good solution for me. travel alot doing the SNECCA circut in Scotland.

Any help willingly recieved.

Dave

TornadoSi (and Sandy ),

Who made the Tilt trailer ?

My next single hander will be 10 feet wide (once I've sold my Inter 17) and I'm planning to go the tilt route.  Is it a braked trailer etc. as I plan to pull it behind my Impreza.

Also, how do you get it to tilt, do 2 people tilt the trailer up while one puts the uprights in?

Scooby - Trailer built in holland and the chap isnt doing anymore which is a shame as the quality is top notch.

I can get the tornado onto the trailer and tilted on my own no hassle at all, the main frame is supported by gas struts front and rear so when you start to lift one side the struts take over and up she goes, the vertical frames then just lock in with 2 pins !!

My trailer is not braked and i have had no problems with it on that front the Impreza im guessing has better brakes than my Escort Dreisel Van !!!!

By the way Sandy says hi !!!

Sounds like an Uber trailer.  Anyone making anything similar in the UK ?

Hi Scooby,

Our trailer is not break assised and is rated at 350kg GMV.  No difference in breaking than a standard flat trailer.  Impreza will more than handle it.

As for tilting, I can also tilt mine solo however with mine the vertical support arms sizzor in the middle.  Lift and when it is at full tilt, the arms lock straight and you insert a bolt to keep it there. 

Will try and get some pics in a few weeks when I put the boat back on the trailer.

Found this company that sell Tilt trailers - http://www.katamarantrailer.at/galerie.html - http://www.katamarantrailer.at/galerie.html

Si   

OK bit late but here are some pics of my tilt trailer.  The base of the trailer is built for a Tornado whilst I have had the arms made up to suit the F-18.  When I get a T again I will likely have longer tilt arms made up for this trailer.