Quote:
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Originally Posted by Captain Zipper
"...The funniest thing ever was the time I was flying a hull with my friend in the harness and he shifted too far forward. We pitch pulled (the only hull in the water submarined) and he went swinging around the bow like he was on a tree swing......finally ending in the water............."
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The splash in the water on the left of this photo is the crew member experiencing a "pitchpole". The Tornado captain (middle-lower) is about to get wet. Putting
three aboard a "beach cat" nearly guarantees a pitchpole in heavy waves.
Not that a pitchpole
is unknown among larger multi-hulls.
When the Tornado was first advertised for sale in the 70s, sales brochures showed a waterskier being towed behind it. Since then, Tornado speeds are approaching 40-MPH, thanks to the assymetrical sails that are allowed under racing rules.
Another catamaran I own, a "Matrix", was an under-capitalized competitor of the Tornado, and never achieved Tornado's popularity. It could be even faster, due to its lighter weight and huge jib. I run it with only one rudder, because high speeds had ripped the second one off the transom! Here, its two "trampolines" are protected against the sun.
It's hard to believe the power of dacron sails in a breeze, but never try to hold back your riderless catamaran when standing knee-deep in the water
without waterskis. Ask me how I know!
