The Tornado was designed over 39 years ago, specifically to be the Olympic Class catamaran. It easily defeated other challengers in a selection event in England in 1967, and sailed its first Olympics in 1976. Since then, with constant refinement of underwater shapes,    construction techniques, and sail plan, the boat has continued to go faster and faster.

In spite of the best efforts of many other designers and builders worldwide, the Tornado still reigns supreme as the fastest production catamaran in the world. In 1999, it survived a challenge to its Olympic status mandated by an ISAF review by beating a variety of production and custom designs in formal trials. The current version of the Tornado, with flat-top mainsail, twin trapezes and spinnaker was adopted for the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the design continues to be a showplace for sailing skill and boat building technology.

The Tornado was designed by Rodney March from England, with help from Terry Pierce, and Reg White, specifically for the purpose of being the new Olympic catamaran. The boat was developed mainly in Brightlingsea, England.

International Status was granted to the Tornado as a result of its outright winning of the IYRU Trials held in England. The next step, adding the catamaran event to the Olympic program, occurred two years later, with the result that the first catamaran event, sailed in 1976 in Canada, was sailed in the Tornado. The Tornado is an outstanding example of a class that was designed specifically for Olympic competition that has become a successful International class on its own merits.

The Tornado has since remained unchallenged as the ultimate one-design catamaran. With its modern, stylish rigging and sleek lines, the Tornado is quick to catch the eye of any water-drawn on-looker as it speeds across harbors, lakes, and oceans in over 30 countries around the world. With its ability to reach speeds of 15-18 knots upwind and downwind, and 33-plus knots reaching, the Tornado is truly the purists' speed machine.

Over 5,000 Tornados have been built, with 1,200 class association members worldwide. The Tornado will feature in its eighth Olympic Games on Fusan Bay, China, in 2008.

A detailed history of the creation of the Tornado Class, its development and history is available on the International Tornado Class Association site at http://www.tornado.org/html/history.asp)