No 'Code Zero' for Dutch Tornado team

But the American duo will be using theirs

The Dutch Tornado-duo Booth and Nieuwenhuis decided not to use the heavily discussed Chupacabra Code Zero during the Olympic regatta in Qingdao. That means they will leave their upwind gennaker onshore and take their normal sized sail out. As mentioned last week, it was a weather dependant call and the forecast does not look favorable for the smaller and flatter Code Zero. There will be three or four windy days and the breeze will come from the north, instead of the southeast, which is the predominant direction in Qingdao. The Tornado class will start racing tomorrow. Today’s practice race was cancelled due too a lack of wind.

'The risk is too big', said Pim Nieuwenhuis this afternoon. 'The forecast shows sixteen knots tomorrow and even more on Sunday. In that case, we have a better chance with the standard set of sails. Normally, the light breeze comes from the southeast, but for next week it looks totally different.' Their new sail was developed for typical Qingdao conditions. “We have always said that our decision would depend on the weather forecast”, declared Nieuwenhuis.

All teams are allowed to measure in two gennakers, including a spare one. The Dutchmen got a normal and small gennaker stamped and had to announce their final choice today at 6 PM local time. However, their American partners Lovell and Ogletree measured in two Code Zero’s and have no choice left. Nieuwenhuis: “By the end of the week, we will see who was right.”

According to Nieuwenhuis, it is no problem for them to switch to the normal seized gennaker: “We always focused on both sail plans, because you never know what the weather will do. So, we did develop a normal light air gennaker as well. It is a pity that we cannot use the Chupacabra Code Zero. On the other hand, we normally hope for stronger winds. The current forecast would have been our dream weather pattern, in case the Code Zero would not exist.” Booth agrees with his crew: “We worked hard on the development. It is very disappointing that we have to change our plan, but it would be foolish going into it with the knowledge about the breeze picking up.” Despite the disappointment, Booth also looks at the positive side of it: “The forecast is an absolute blessing for us, so here we go.”