tornado

As we've said, this is the last year for catamarans in the foreseeable Olympic games, and we bid farewell to the Olympic Tornado Class one last time with this photo.  These boats put on a great show in the medal race, and it's been a shock to many fans that they will not be sailing in Weymouth for the London games.  

Qingdao, China - Is it fitting that the last Olympic race the Tornado Class may ever see was also the fastest, most exciting sailing of the 2008 Olympics? Yes it is. After watching the various one-design sailboats bob around in almost no wind for most of the Beijing Olympics, the Tornado Class got one last chance to show the spectators why this became an Olympic class in the first place - speed, skill and action. With race speeds reaching 18 knots, it became clear to everyone why this boat is the thoroughbred of the Olympic fleet, and now it is gone.

Qingdao, China - The Tornado catamarans took to the waters of Qingdao today for the first race of what may be the last Olympics for this class. Though fast and popular with spectators, the Tornado class is not scheduled for the London games, and the sailors of this speedy cat have a lot to prove.

If you want to see a multihull in the Olympics, this may be your last chance. The Tornado class is the only multihull in the 2008 Beijing (Qingdao) Olympic sailing competition, and there will be no multihull class in the 2012 London Olympics. Too bad, as this high performance catamaran, with a top speed of over 30 knots, is really something to behold.