23/04/2010
Tornado class has chosen One Design Sails


Tornado Class has chosen One Design Sails.

Ullman sails was selected to manufacture, service, support and distribution of Tornado One Design Sails.
Aiming to produce the Best Value Tornado One Design sails, our loft has shared his 20years of Tornado know-how and experience as well as our widest sail design source. with a selected Technical group of professional & amateur sailors, measurers, cloth producers, in order to achieve:
- all round performing product;
- Identical product;
- quality;
- durability;

All round performing.

As One Design sails, we considered the average crew weight of the class (here including professional and amateur sailors), average wind range and we chose the shape best fits these criteria. The mainsail shape has been used by many professional sailors as basic shape source in their last Campaigns and won many major regattas.
Jib is our most produced shape used in the last two Campaigns (more that 70% of the jibs produced had this shape).
Gennaker shape. The performing of which we are very proud, whichis the one that won Gold in last Quingdao Olympic Games upgraded on the entry angle and leech roach for a more ideal all round sail.

Uniformity

It has been our most trustable power since ever.
Professional sailors, ISAF, boat builders, feed-backs, are some of the sources that certify our capacity.

Sails Quality

Sails consistent quality is the base of our loft organization and philosophy. Tornado One Design sails will have no differences from what was the past Tornado standard production. None of the single part of the sails - materials, hardware, finishing - has been changed and/or modified from what was our standard Tornado production.

Sailcloth is our biggest achievement: Contender Apen 09-1.5 mil [read below] for main and jib and Contender superkote75/80 for gennaker.

Durability

It is the result of our experience and acquired know-how. Added to this the accurate construction dedicated to any single sail in order to grant a Very fair Top Racing Quality.

Sails Specifications

Mainsail.
The radial construction has been unanimously opted as it is recognised the best solution to achieve the Class One Design criteria construction (cloth/quality/durability/granted price/cloth availability for the entire quadrennial).
The shape as written before is a very well known shape, the best all round with a very wide range of use.
A One Design mainsail to suit aluminium mast has also been scheduled for production upon request.

Jib.
From extremely solid agreement on shape, we have worked out an ideal radial construction which combines very well sail durability and visibility. The number of radial panels was increased giving the chance to place a good size and well positioned window. The tack reinforce has been increased for less stress of the sail through this area. Jib battens are tapered and trimmed for all round use.

Gennaker.
From a very fast shape we worked focusing on a more durable and easy sail to use.
The leech roach has been reduced to grant longer life before motoring. The entry angle and luff offset were upgraded for a simpler trimming. Corner patches were trimmed for the right balance between stiffness/snuffer need and durability.

Materials
It has been the longest decision within the working group. We had communications with cloth producers and we considered as well the cross-cut construction and the membrane construction. Our loft history and experience drove us back through two significant matters:

Polyester Cuber Fiber and Apen09-1.5mil experience.
In these two fabrics we had been working for opposite aims. Cuben was meant to be for a “one shot” sail while Apen09 was specifically used as the most ideal DPI/Stability/durability cloth.
The Apen09 was produced by Contender upon our request and its availability was continuously granted through the past years. This fabric has been taken off production since 3years but now it has been reintroduced once more upon our request. As said, we recognise 9000 DPI with a 1.5mil film thickness as the perfect combination of strength, stability and durability. In the class we have mostly seen the use of Apen 06-1.5mil. This has always been a very good performing short durability sail. Not only as extremely light but also shape stability were a concern in too short time.
This was partially solved by turning into the Apen06-3mil which has a better stability but missing the necessary strength with medium/heavy crews in medium/strong breeze.
Another step was done with the PE15-1.5mil giving a very good in durable sail, but clearly it has a too strong warp which was nice on the “cuno” loads but often too stiff on the leech. Besides PE15 was requiring a better trimming.

Further agreements with the Class on service and support has been reached. Ullman Sails is committed to service sailors according to the necessity on the race courses. We have confirmed to supply all sails in case of Olympic needs.

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