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Tornado Catamaran
Designer: R. March/T. Pearce/R. White  ·  Builder: Sailcraft (Can)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Tornado Catamaran

Originally designed by the collaborative trio of Rodney March, Terry Pearce, and Reg White in 1967, this high-performance catamaran quickly established itself as a formidable force in competitive sailing. With an impressive production run of 4,700 boats built primarily by Sailcraft in Canada, the Tornado became one of the most successful racing catamarans ever created. The boat's fractional sloop rig features a rotating mast that allows for precise sail shape control, while the twin centerboard configuration provides excellent upwind performance and shallow-water versatility. At 20 feet in length with a 10-foot beam, the Tornado strikes an ideal balance between speed and handling, making it suitable for both serious racers and experienced recreational sailors seeking thrilling performance. The wood and fiberglass construction offers durability while keeping displacement to just 300 pounds, contributing to exceptional acceleration and planning ability. With a sail area to displacement ratio of 83.99, this catamaran delivers exhilarating speed on all points of sail. The Tornado gained international recognition as an Olympic class boat, cementing its reputation for precision engineering and competitive excellence. Today, it remains highly sought after by sailors who appreciate responsive handling and pure sailing performance in coastal waters.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 2.50 ft / 0.76 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 300.00 lb / 136 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 235.00 ft² / 21.83 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Cbrd.
Rigging Type Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar)
Construction Wood/FG
Designer R. March/T. Pearce/R. White
Builder Sailcraft (CAN)
First Built 1967
Number Built 4700
Associations Tornado Class Association (International)
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
27.26
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
1.2
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
5.98
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.52 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 3.64 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
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