On the final day Lake Biel offered some tough sailing conditions for the competitors of the Tornado World Championship 2011 with strong winds close to the upper wind limit of 25 knots. It was possible to complete four races in these demanding conditions. After three races the race committee decided to return to shore for a break, which allowed many teams to repair the damages.

Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis from Greece took the Open World title while Roland Gäbler and Nahid Gäbler won the Mixed World title.

The artilce below was taken from the tornadochampionships.com

On the last and decisive day of the Tornado World Championships on Lake Biel, the wind gave the 37 Tornados reported from eleven nations, a extravagant, yet challenging final.

The anticipated cold front brought fresh westerly wind of four to six Beaufort. Shortly after ten clock, there was no holding back on the start line. Two false starts were the result. The teams then sailed three races in quick succession. The favourite was impressed by neither wind nor whitecaps and pulled away again. The Australian Brett Burvill Duffield and Ryan (AUS 327) won against the European champions from Greece, Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (GRE 7) and the German reigning World Champion pair of Roland Gaebler and Nahid (GER 1).

In the second race of the day, the Greeks took victory but were OCS and the race was not counted for them. The mixed team of Roland and Nahid Gaebler took victory against the Australians. The native Jean-Marc Cuanillon and Michael Gloor (SUI 232) reached fourth place.

The wind picked up, and capsizes were the result. There have never been so many capsizes in a World Championships, Roland Gaebler said later, he and his wife were affected, they reached the third race of the day but still finished eighth.

The field pulled apart, another 18 boats lined up for the third race of the day. The victory came for the Greeks. In the intermediate standings after four races in total, they were slipped because of a jump start, despite two wins to seventh. Team Gaebler were in the lead before the Australians and Cuanillon / Gloor. The Swiss couple Martin and Julia Rusterholz was ranked 18, they were not able to finish the fourth race.

After a rest on land, the race committee sent the competitors out at 3 o’clock to the last, decisive and very exciting course. The west wind blew with up to force five Beaufort which was mixed with heavy rain. 22 Tornados took off and 20 of them finished. The race was won by the team Gaebler, followed by the Greeks. Thus, the championship was decided by a single point on the Germans, the Greeks brought the title.

This was the first time in Switzerland for the German team and they had not known what conditions they would have to reckon with. To win the title was, however, their goal, Nahid said, after the regatta. Gaebler was delighted at the title in the mixed category, which they brought against the Austrians Nicole and Dietmar Salzmann (AUT 3) and the Rusterholz paring.

The ten who had travelled as Mixed teams are hoping that the Tornado is in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as the Mixed Multihull for the Olympics.  There is now time for the competitors to rest ahead of the Tornado European Championships on Lake Como, Italy from the 8th – 11th September.

Gwyn Cracknell (foundly known as Crackles) is in the process of writing some articles and collecting information about the histrory of the Tornado in Australia.  He has started by putting together the list of Australian and WA state Champions. You can view this info here. if you have any additional information you can provide please send it to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will get Crackles to update it.

He is also compiling some interesting info about the people who sail Tornadoes (both past and present) and a little bit about each one of them.  Check back here to see what Crackles can come up with.

Regards
Paul Raymond
Webmaster

Brett Burvill and Ryan Duffield finished off their regatta with a win which clinched their defence of their title with hard finishing Lachlan Gibson and Josh Fugill coming in second and Matthew Stone and Dave Hart keeping Jack Benson and Ethan Neaves at bay to hold onto 3rd.

Lachlan and Josh had a chance to take the title with a good result in the last race but failed getting disqualified with a black flag.

Andy Griffin had his best regatta ever finishing in 6th place behind Paul Raymond and Billy Leonard.

The AITA are proud to welcome back FGI as the major sponsor for the 2011 Australian International Tornado National Titles. This is the second year FGI have sponsored this event and the AITA is proud to have FGI on board.

Fiberglass International is Australia's leading supplier of composite materials. They offer the widest product range and the most extensive network of strategically located distribution centres spanning from Cairns in Northern Queensland to Canning Vale in Western Australia.

Each distribution centre always holds in stock an extensive range of products ensuring that you get the product you need when you want it.

Whether your material requirements are for a large ocean going vessel, a chemical storage tank or a small 'one-off' component, the FGI teams around the country will help you achieve the most appropriate and cost-effective solution.

For more information about FGI or to find your local FGI store visit http://fgi.com.au.

An interview with the first mixed team ever to win the Tornado World Championships!