But they won't be the weaving twisters that ravage everything in their path -- rather the variety that are admired for their grace, style and speed on the water.

The sailing version is back following a two-year hiatus caused in great part by the closure of the former United States Naval Annex in Southampton -- now Morgan's Point -- which stripped the Tornado Class of a vital storage area and launching berth.

And no one is more pleased to finally have the catamarans back in action than Alan Burland, the former Olympian and current interim president of the Tornado Class.

"It's great, I really missed not being out there and I believe everyone in the class feels the same way,'' said Burland, who along with partner Chris Nash competed at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. "It's great to be back and I don't intend to have a pause in my favourite pasttime again.'' Burland said that the rebuilding process was now well underway with seven skippers so far having shown serious interest, while a few others have also expressed willingness to come aboard.

A low-key, one-day national championship series was held nearly two weeks ago, the first since 1993, and regular weekend racing will commence with the onset of the 1997 season.

In addition, Bermuda has been given the green light to host the 1997 Tornado World Championships from November 7-14 in Grassy Bay, just off the coast of Dockyard.

The west end port will also serve as a housing area for the boats after a deal was worked out with West End Development Corporation that will see them take up permanent residence at the end of the year.

Burland is optimistic the class will be able to regain its former status and noted the importance of younger sailors being exposed to the high-performance craft.

"The outlook is very good, we've got new blood in the class and junior sailors who are coming from the Optimist and Laser programmes and are keen to get out on a boat,'' Burland said.

"They're just so much fun to sail and I think the class will come back even stronger than it was in its heyday. They're sensational boats.

"The Worlds should really bring the class into focus. Right now we just want to get people focussed on the fact that the class is here and hopefully here to stay and there will be opportunities to purchase really good quality boats after the Worlds.'' Burland said the long-term goal is for Bermuda to represented in the Tornado class at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

At one time it was the Tornado Class which provided perhaps the most stirring rivalry among local sailors, with the tandem of Burland and Nash constantly battling the sibling team of Reid and Jay Kempe.

However, that vanished as quickly as a whitecap with the eviction from the base.

Jay Kempe is one of those who has returned, now with a new team-mate in the form of wife Jackie Stevenson. And indications are that a rivalry may again form, with Kempe and Stevenson announcing themselves with four wins during the recent National Championships to take the title, leaving Burland and Nash to settle for second.

SMOKE ON THE WATER -- The lightning-fast Tornado class has returned to Bermuda after a two-year hiatus and the Island has already been selected to host next year's World Championships.