Set to be close

Richard Allen previews the Tornado Nationals to be held this weekend at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

Stokes Bay Sailing Club is the venue for this years Tornado Nationals which will run from 2 September to 4 September 2005.

With sponsorship from Ronstan, and supported by Northrop Sails, White Sails, Crono UK and Gul this years event looks set to be the best yet. With both the Current Tornado and some Tornado Classics (no Spinnaker) entered the Tornado class continues to grow in numbers year on year.

This years events sees last Years Athens Olympic representatives taking part, now in different boats. Leigh McMillian and new crew, former Dutch Tornado Coach Will Howden are the favourites following their second place at the 2005 Tornado World Championships in July. They will be pushed hard by fellow Team GBR sailors Hugh Styles, Rob Wilson and Team Walsh and Barney who have continued to improve this year and will be keen to defend the Championship title they won last year.

There will be hugh competition to be the first non funded Tornado team with the likely contenders being Will Sunnucks, Simon Northrop, Richard Allen, Leo Farrow and Jonny Hutchcroft, however with many new sailors taking part in their first Tornado Nationals nothing can be taken for granted.

If you want to see why the Tornado is still the pinnacle of Catamaran sailing come on down to Stokes Bay and see first hand the speed of these twin wire flying machines.