This long weekend’s Greek Nationals promises a fascinating clash between the sport’s rising champions and some of the most decorated names in Tornado sailing.
Leading the fleet are defending Greek National Champions and reigning Tornado World Champions Nikolaos Mavros and Polydoros Parianos aboard GRE 86. The duo captured the 2025 Tornado World Championship title in Thessaloniki, demonstrating exceptional consistency and speed throughout the regatta.
Standing in their way is a lineup of genuine Tornado legends. Among them are former World Champions Konstantinos Trigonis and Konstantinos Kazatzis, a pairing that has consistently remained among the fastest boats in the fleet whenever they compete. Trigonis has accumulated numerous world and European titles during an extraordinary career and remains one of the most respected figures in the class.
The fleet is further strengthened by the presence of Iordanis “Dany” Paschalidis, one of the most accomplished sailors in Tornado history, sailing alongside Michalis Papadopoulos. While Dany’s legacy in the Tornado class is firmly established, he has continued to evolve with the sport as it has moved into the foiling era. He has, since 2019, transitioned into the Olympic Nacra 17 class, continuing his Olympic campaign at the highest level of high-performance sailing. His move from classic multihulls to foiling boats highlights both his adaptability and his enduring drive to compete at the cutting edge of the sport.
Paschalidis and Trigonis dominated the class for many years, claiming multiple consecutive world championship titles and establishing themselves as one of the most successful and influential partnerships in Tornado sailing history. In recent years, they have chosen to pursue separate campaigns in the class, embracing the opportunity to “pass the rudder” to the next generation by sharing their experience and racing alongside younger sailors, helping to further develop the next wave of sailing talent.
With the reigning world champions facing a fleet packed with former world champions and seasoned veterans, the championship is shaping up to be a battle between youth, momentum, and experience. The question for the weekend is simple: can GRE 86 continue its winning streak, or will the legends remind everyone why their names are etched into Tornado sailing history?
Results Day 3
1. Mavros Nikolaos / Parianos Polydoros, 3pts
2. Trigonis Konstantinos / Kazatzis Konstantinos 5pts
3. Tsaggetas Panagiotis / Papadopoulos Giorgos 9pts
4. Diamantopoulos Giannis / Koumpanis Thanos 12pts
5. Papadopoulos Michalis / Paschalidis Iordanis 14pts
6. Poulis Skarlatos Dimitris / Saridis Kyriakos 17pts
Photo credits: Maria Tsekoura