21.04.2010
Tornado-Class
Liebe Segelfreunde,
im Rahmen der aktuellen wirtschaftlichen Situation haben wir uns mal gedacht, dass es auch an der Zeit ist die Kosten für eine Olympia Kampagne zu senken. Falls wir wieder Olympisch werden (Entscheidung spätestens November 2012), dann wird nur noch mit strikten One Design Segeln gesegelt. Dank hochqualitativem Segeltuch brauchen wir nur noch einen Satz pro Saison. Fertig ist.
Wenn man mal genau hinschaut wie die Kosten bei einer Olympia-Kampagne so zusammen kommen, dann sind die Aufwendungen für das Design und die Anschaffung von mehreren Segel-Sätzen pro Saison enorm. Ich darf gar nicht sagen was die Segelteams so ausgegeben haben für die individuelle Segelentwicklung (Tornado, 49er, Star, 470er u.a) um eine Medaille zu erringen. Budgets von über 20.000 € p.a. für die Segel waren da normal. Das entspricht in keinster Weise dem Olympischen Spirit. Schluss damit. Ein Satz Segel. Von einem Hersteller. Und bei dem Olympischen Spielen dann gestellte Segel. Also auch kein testen innerhalb der One Design Segel.
Wir haben uns eine Menge Gedanken gemacht, wie es mit dem Olympischen Segeln weiter gehen soll. Siehe Tornado Newsletter anbei. Und das ist noch nicht alles. Mitte des Jahres werden wir einen Tornado präsentieren den sich alle Teams und Nationen leisten können. Olympisches Segeln muss für alle bezahlbar sein. Es darf keinen Material-Vorteil für reiche Nationen geben.
Ich bitte darum unsere Tornado Olympia Kampagne zu unterstützen. Der Tornado wurde speziell für die Olympischen Spiele geschaffen und nach wie vor ist es die schnellste One Design Multihull Klasse die es gibt. Und das IOC hat uns einen Award in 2008 gegeben für die beste Olympische Fernsehübertragung (Medalrace).
Schon peinlich, das die ISAF uns raus geschmissen hat. Aber wir kommen zurück. Mit Eurer Hilfe!
Tornado One Design Sails
It is official! The One-Design Sail had your vote, was audited, approved and we are going full speed (as usual!) with it.
Thank you to all that took the time and voted. You ARE the Tornado class, the most exciting and fastest catamaran class!
The ITA sent out a Press Release minutes ago to make the sailing world, the press, ISAF and MNAs aware that we are alive and kicking. And pretty serious about getting our Olympic status back.
There are benefits to all with the One-Design Sail and if you still have any doubts please log on to www.tornado-class.org and read the fact-sheet that we have prepared for you.
And again, if you have not yet paid your 2010 membership, please do so. All of the Committee members are volunteers so the revenue that the ITA generate goes straight back into improving and promoting the class. Help us to support our class!
Below you will find the Press Release sent out.
2010 TORNADO EUROPEANS
Have you registered? Not yet??!!! Hurry up now because the deadline is Apr 30th and surely you don’t want to have to pay late entry fee!
Please check www.tornadoeuropeans2010.com for info on the Austrians Nationals followed by the Europeans.
Lake Neusiedl is a great sailing venue and the event promises awesome sailing!!! Not to be missed!!!!
Hope to see you all there!
RADICAL SAIL CHANGE BLOWS NEW LIFE INTO TORNADO RACING
The International Tornado Association (ITA) has responded to the global downturn and the need to attract sailing's Generation Next to the class by allowing the best, not just the best funded, to race these ultra-fast sailing machines.
And while it's not often in life the cost of anything goes down, this is exactly what will happen in the world of Tornado sailing.
One of the biggest changes to the sport since the introduction of spinnakers and the double trapeze in 2001 following the Sydney Olympics, the Tornado class has voted to put a ceiling on costs with the introduction of one-design sails in the interest of creating a fairer playing field.
"These are exciting times for the Tornado and for sailing," said ITA President and former World Champion and Olympic medalist Roland Gaebler from Germany.
"We feel that the Tornado has always been one of the leaders in sailing in terms of promotion, sponsorship and of course, excitement, and we believe this decision again shows we are not only capable of moving with the times, but responding to the times.
"We feel sailing needs to be pro-active, not just reactive.
"Consulting research gathered at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 we decided cutting the cost of sails was the best way to reduce costs and we believe it is also in the true spirit of the Olympics to create this cheaper but also more level racing field."
In another cost-cutting exercise which will do nothing to detract from the high-performance of these speed machines, it has been proposed one-design sails would be provided if the popular and media-friendly craft was accepted back onto the Olympic sailing program.
The class is intent on working overtime to regain Olympic acceptance, hopefully by the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, after being left off the program for the London Olympics in 2012.
"If we get Olympic status back as we are working very hard to do, the one-design sails are fixed by class rules for all major Olympic sailing events from 2013 on," Mr Gaebler said.
"On top of this, the Tornado class would offer to supply one-design sails for the Olympic Games from 2016 should this exciting catamaran be back on the program.
"The sails available now draw on some of the best designs seen on the racetrack and include the gennacker design used to win the gold medal at the last Olympics in China.
"The ITA also believes putting a ceiling on the cost of sails will greatly enhance the Tornado catamarans appeal off the water while doing nothing to compromise its excitement or performance on it."
A complete set of the new one-design sails from Ullman Sails Italy cost €2.950, including tax. The cost of sails will be fixed for a period of time. Long-lasting but high-quality sail cloth has been used for the mainsail, jib and gennacker.
Designs from this loft, founded by the great sailor Giorgio Zuccoli and now in the hands of the experienced Pablo Soldano, have been used to win world titles, European championships and Olympic medals. The one-design sails available incorporate some of the best aspects of these top performers.
For further information please contact;
Roland Gaebler
Tel. & Fax. + 45 7464 8585 (Denmark)
Mobile: + 49 172 454 3074 (Germany)
pres@tornado-class.org
www.tornado-class.org
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