The 2026 New Zealand Tornado Nationals kicked off the season as the first Tornado class event of the year, delivering competitive racing and strong mixed-crew participation across eight races.
Dave and Susan Shaw (Popeye – NZL73) dominated the regatta, winning all eight races to claim both the Open National Championship and Mixed Crew title with an outstandingly consistent series.
Second overall went to Winston Ordish-Benner and Shanae Ahern (Thundercat – NZL121), while Wayne Limbrick and Sally Tait (Arriba 2 – NZL90) secured third place after a close battle with Jason Marra and Lyndsay Hayward (Relentless – NZL87).
The strong turnout of mixed teams highlighted the continued growth and competitiveness of the NZL Tornado fleet heading into the international season.
Looking Ahead – Tornado Worlds 2026
All sailors are invited to the 2026 Tornado World Championship, taking place 12–19 July in Quiberon, France, one of Europe’s premier high-performance sailing venues.
The NZL fleet now turns its focus toward international competition following an excellent start to the 2026 season.
Photos by Tornado Class New Zealand
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE NZL TORNADO ASSOCIATION
2026 New Zealand Tornado Nationals Championships
Tauranga yacht and power boating club (TYPBC) hosted the 2026 New Zealand tornado national championships. It saw teams from Auckland, Bay of Islands, and Nelson, come and join four local Tauranga teams to battle it out for the national title. Three days of fierce competition, camaraderie, and superb sailing in beautiful Tauranga, with the race course set out from Mount Maunganui main beach.
One of the well-established local Tauranga teams (Jason Marra and Brendon Duske) on “Relentless” got split up at the last minute as Brendon broke his hand during the practice race on Thursday afternoon. Jason quickly arranged some most capable sailors to fill in for the 3 days of racing that followed.
Also, a special mention to Hamish and Lauren from Auckland – it was their first time sailing a Tornado – talk about getting thrown in the deep end! If that wasn’t enough, Lauren broke her toe on the first leg of the first race on day 2, and then proceeded to finish 3 races before heading back to shore for the day – what a legend.
Day 1 – Friday 27th February
Day one of the Tornado Nationals got underway in light conditions, with the breeze initially slow to build. As the day progressed the sea breeze gradually filled in, creating more stable racing conditions across the course for the afternoon.
Three races were successfully completed, giving the fleet a solid start to the regatta. While a clear front runner began to establish themselves early (Dave and Susan Shaw, “Popeye”), the middle of the fleet saw some very close and competitive racing, with positions changing frequently around the course.
It was a great opening day to the Nationals and set the tone for an exciting regatta ahead.
Day 2 – Saturday 28th February
Day two delivered challenging conditions, with a 0.5m swell combined with around 1m of chop and 15–18 knots of breeze. The sea state made for intense and physical sailing, demanding full concentration from crews throughout the day.
Four races were completed, with tight racing across most of the fleet. While the front leader (Dave and Susan Shaw) smashed out another four bullets, the rest of the field remained closely contested, producing some exciting battles around the course. In the third race of the day, there was no more than a two-second gap between 3rd and 5th place.
The combination of breeze and chop ensured there was little room for error, keeping the racing competitive from start to finish. It was a miracle there were no capsizes out on the water this day, although certainly some very close calls.
Day 3 – Sunday 1st March
The wind decided to have a sleep-in on Sunday morning, so day three began with a long wait on the water as the fleet sat bobbing in light airs for over two hours, hoping for the sea breeze to fill in. With no warning signal to be made after 2pm, time was quickly running out to start a race.
Just after 1:30pm the breeze finally showed enough consistency for the race officer to get racing underway. The fleet completed one race, but with the clock running down it would be the only start of the day.
Despite being a single race, it proved to be a crucial one. The result reshuffled the overall standings and ultimately played a major role in shaping the final scoreboard.
Regatta Summary
The Tornado Nationals delivered a wide range of conditions across the three days of racing, testing both patience and skill across the fleet. From light winds and building breeze on day one, to challenging chop and stronger winds on day two, and a long wait for breeze on the final day, competitors experienced the full spectrum of racing conditions.
Dave and Susan Shaw took the Nationals by storm, producing a perfect score, and teaching everyone a lesson or two. Aside from the clear winner, across the regatta, the racing remained tight through the majority of the fleet, particularly through the middle of the fleet where positions were often closely contested. The final race on day three reshuffled the overall standings and added a dramatic finish to the event, with only a 1-point difference between 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Overall it was a fantastic Nationals, with competitive racing, demanding conditions, and great spirit across the fleet.