Fireball (dinghy)
Originally designed by Peter Milne in 1962, the Fireball is a one-design high-performance sailing dinghy. The Fireball is sailed by a crew of two, and sports a single trapeze, symmetric spinnaker and chined hull. The class is strictly controlled, but has adapted to advances in building techniques. The hulls (plywood, FRP or composite) have a strict minimum weight limit of 175 lb (79 kg) (with correctors).
Class symbol | |
Boat | |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (single trapeze) |
Hull | |
Hull weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
LOA | 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m) |
Beam | 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) |
Rig | |
Mast length | 22.3 ft (6.8 m) |
Sails | |
Mainsail area | 108 sq ft (10.0 m2). |
Jib/genoa area | 35 sq ft (3.3 m2). |
Spinnaker area | 140 sq ft (13 m2). |
Racing | |
D-PN | 85.6 |
RYA PN | 980 |
PHRF | 184 |
Class is a member of World Sailing |
The Fireball is a highly competitive dinghy, with large fleets worldwide and state, national, continental and world championships held annually. Competitors of all ages help make this class enjoyable for everyone. The performance of the boat is very dependent on tuning as the Fireball's rig can be adjusted in numerous ways.
The 2010 Fireball World Championships were held in Barbados in May 2010. The 2011 Worlds were held in Sligo Yacht Club, Sligo, Ireland. The 2012 World Championships were held in Mandurah, Western Australia. The 2012 European Championships were held at Lake Bracciano in July. The Fireball celebrated its 50th year in 2012 and the 50th UK National Championships was held at Penzance in August.
The Fireball can also be sailed in a mixed fleet using the Portsmouth Yardstick handicap scheme. Its Portsmouth number is 980 in the UK[1] and its D-PN (in the USA) is 85.6.[2]
Events
World Championships
Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1966 Hayling Island | Bob Fisher Richard Beales |
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1967 Ile de Bendor | Peter Bateman Julian Brooke-Houghton |
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1968 Brunnen | Peter Bateman Julian Brooke-Houghton |
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1970 Fenit | J. Caig J. Davis |
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1971 Beirut | J. Caig J. Davis |
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1972 Wrightsville Beach | J. Deisch S. Warfvinge |
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1973 Torbay | K. Brackwell R. Butcher |
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1974 Glenelg | J. Cassidy W. Crisp |
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1975 La Rochelle | A. Ellis Joan Ellis |
Morgenrood Latham |
Davis Davis |
1976 Hubbard | S. Benjamin T. Edmunson |
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1977 Kinsale | S. Benjamin T. Edmunson |
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1978 Pattaya | Lawrie Smith Andy Barker |
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1979 Monnickendam | Crispin Read-Wilson Paul Withers |
Paul McNamara Nigel Vivian |
Davies |
1980 Durban | Kim Slater Richard Parslow |
RSA JJ Provoyeur T Twentyman-Jones
RSA D Hudson T Reynolds |
|
1981 Weymouth | Phil Morrison Jon Turner |
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1982 Melbourne | Chris Tillet Mike Rogers |
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1983 Estavayer-le-Lac | Stuart Hamilton D. Conner |
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1984 Point Richmond | Gary Smith Nigel Conner |
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1985 Diano Marina | Tony Weatherill Martin Penty |
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1986 Montréal | Nigel Abbott Craig Smith |
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1987 Val-André | Ian Pinnell Daniel Cripps |
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1988 Glenelg | John Clifton Paul Martin |
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1989 Paignton | John Dransfield Andrew Perry |
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1990 Enoshima | John Dransfield Andrew Perry |
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1991 Skadergarten | Jon Dransfield Gregor Baird |
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1992 Wrightsville Beach | Martin Lambrecht Alec Lanham-Love |
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1993 Nieuwpoort | Tim Rush John Ward |
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1994 Durban | Ian Pinnell Daniel Cripps |
Schärer Moser |
Cook Batty |
1995 Dun Loaghaire | John Lavery David O'Brien |
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1996 Kingston | Colin Goodman Jim Turner |
Erich Moser Ruedi Moser |
Toff Nicoll-Griffith Peter Kelly |
1997 Weymouth | David Edwards Adam Bowers |
Ian Pinnell John Ward |
Malcolm Davies Ian Cadwallader |
1998 Melbourne | Colin Goodman Jim Turner |
Ian Pinnell John Ward |
Malcolm Davies Russell Thorne |
1999 Brest | Bénoît Petit Jean-François Cuzon |
Ian Pinnell John Ward |
|
2000 Pattaya | David Edwards Vyv Townend |
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2001 Trevignano Romano | Steve Morrison Liam Murray |
Ian Pinnell David Scott |
Tomas Musil Milan Kolacek |
2002 Tampa | Ian Pinnell David Scott |
Richard Estaugh Simon Potts |
Erich Moser Ruedi Moser |
2003 Kilifi | Chips Howarth Vyv Townend |
Dave Wade Richard Wagstaff |
Vincent Horey Jim Turner |
2004 Adelaide | Andy Smith James Meldrum |
Tomas Musil Jan Danek |
Dave Wade Richard Wagstaff |
2005 Teighmouth | Chips Howarth Vyv Townend |
Andy Smith Jonny Mildred |
Guy Tipton Chriss Tattersall |
2006 Victoria | Erich Moser Ruedi Moser |
Grant Lamont Tom Egli |
Heather MacFarlane Chris Payne |
2007 St. Moritz | Richard Estaugh Rob Gardener |
Vince Horey Andy Thompson |
Tom Jeffcoate Mark Hogan |
2008 Pattaya | Matt Mee Richard Wagstaff |
David Wade Ben McGraine |
Nathan Stockley Sam Muirhead |
2009 La Rochelle | Chips Howarth Vyv Townend |
Matt Burge Richard Wagstaff |
David Edwards Simon Potts |
2010 Bridgetown | Chips Howarth Vyv Townend |
Matt Burge Richard Wagstaff |
David Edwards Simon Potts |
2011 Ireland | Matt Burge Richard Wagstaff |
Thomas Gillard Sam Brearey |
David Wade Simon Potts |
2012 Australia | Thomas Gillard Sam Brearey |
Robin Inns Joel Coultas |
Greg Allison Richard Watson |
2013 Slovenia | Thomas Gillard Simon Potts |
Christian Birrell Sam Brearey |
Matt Burge Dan Scieber |
2014 Thailand | Christian Birrell Sam Brearey |
Nathan Bathchelor Sam Pascoe |
Ben Schulz Doug Sheppard |
2015 Pwhelli, Wales | Tom Gillard Richard Anderton |
James Peters Fynn Sterritt |
Christian Birrell Sam Brearey |
2016 Mossel Bay, South Africa | Tom Gillard Richard Anderton |
Claude Mermod Ruedi Moser |
Ben Schulz Jack Lidgett |
2018 Carnac, France | Matt Burge Dan Scieber |
Penny Clark Russell Clark |
Tom Gillard Geoff Edwards |
2019 Montreal, Canada | Ian Dobson Richard Wagstaff |
Heather Macfarlane Chris Payne |
Ludovic Collin Remy Thuillier |
European Championships
Year | Event | Venue | Boat | Helm and Crew | Country
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 15084 | Matt Burge & Richard Wagstaff | United Kingdom |
2011 | European Championship | Event not held | N/A & N/A | ||
2010 | European Championship | Czech Republic | Fireball 15041 | Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey | United Kingdom |
2009 | European Championship | France | Fireball 15020 | Vince Horey & Rob Gardner | United Kingdom |
2008 | European Championship | Belgium | Fireball 14948 | Tom Jeffcoate & David Hynes | United Kingdom |
2007 | European Championship | Event not held | N/A & N/A | ||
2006 | European Championship | France | Fireball 14895 "Gul" | Andy Smith & Jonny Mildred | United Kingdom |
2005 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 14908 "4 walls 4 sail" | David Edwards & Dan Newman | United Kingdom |
2004 | European Championship | Slovenia | Fireball 14879 "Aloha Malina" | Thomas Musil & Jan Stantejsky | Czech Republic |
2003 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 14801 | Andy Smith & James Meldrum | United Kingdom |
2002 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 14799 | Erich Moser & Ruedi Moser | Switzerland |
2001 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 14685 "Last Man's Batter" | Steve Morrison & Liam Murray | United Kingdom |
2000 | European Championship | Ireland | Fireball 14685 "Last Man's Batter" | Steve Morrison & Richard Wagstaff | United Kingdom |
1999 | European Championship | France | Fireball 14701 | Ian Pinnell & M Flint | United Kingdom |
1998 | European Championship | Czech Republic | Fireball 14552 | Thomas Musil & Roman Racek | Czech Republic |
1997 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 14579 "Kojak's Roll-Neck" | Colin Goodman & Jim Turner | United Kingdom |
1996 | European Championship | Switzerland | Fireball 14540 | Erich Moser & Ruedi Moser | Switzerland |
1995 | European Championship | Ireland | Fireball 14378 | John Lavery & David O'Brien | Ireland |
1994 | European Championship | France | Fireball 14376 | Erich Moser & Ruedi Moser | Switzerland |
1993 | European Championship | Belgium | Fireball 14376 | Erich Moser & Ruedi Moser | Switzerland |
1992 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 14334 | Jean-Charles Scale & Bertrand Loyal | France |
1991 | European Championship | Czechoslovakia | Fireball 14267 | Ian Pinnell & Daniel Cripps | United Kingdom |
1990 | European Championship | Switzerland | Fireball 14169 | Jeremy Hartley & Chris Miles | United Kingdom |
1989 | European Championship | Belgium | Fireball 14016 | Ian Pinnell & Jarrod Simpson | United Kingdom |
1988 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 14016 | Ian Pinnell & Daniel Cripps | United Kingdom |
1987 | European Championship | France | Fireball 13845 "Boy Racer" | Ian Pinnell & Daniel Cripps | United Kingdom |
1986 | European Championship | Sweden | Fireball 13668 | Andy Rowland & Mark Hazelwood | United Kingdom |
1985 | European Championship | Guernsey | Fireball 13460 | Ian Fryett & Giles Fryett | United Kingdom |
1984 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 13317 | Tim Rush & Angus Hemmings | United Kingdom |
1983 | European Championship | France | Fireball 12718 | Colin McKinnon & Doug Peniston | United Kingdom |
1982 | European Championship | Ireland | Fireball 12923 | Tony Wetherell & Steve Goacher | United Kingdom |
1981 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 12895 | Nigel Buckley & Steve Birbeck | United Kingdom |
1980 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 12812 | Eddie Warden-Owen & Ossie Stewart | United Kingdom |
1979 | European Championship | Sweden | Fireball 12063 | David Bain & Stuart Angus | United Kingdom |
1978 | European Championship | France | Fireball 11609 | Kim Slater & Nick Read-Wilson | United Kingdom |
1977 | European Championship | West Germany | Fireball 11059 | Roger Tushingham & Alistair Locke | United Kingdom |
1976 | European Championship | Sweden | Fireball 9961 | Lawrie Smith & Paul Withers | United Kingdom |
1975 | European Championship | United Kingdom | Fireball 7429 | Philippe Gault & Patrice Gault | France |
1974 | European Championship | Switzerland | Fireball 9238 | Alistair Locke & N Robinson | United Kingdom |
1973 | European Championship | Italy | Fireball 8091 | Phillippe Durr & Yves Pochon | Switzerland |
1972 | European Championship | West Germany | Fireball 7175 | Jean-Claude Vuithier & Pierre Walt | Switzerland |
1971 | European Championship | Sweden | Fireball 6396 | A Batzill & R Batzill | West Germany |
1970 | European Championship | Event not held | N/A & N/A | ||
1969 | European Championship | Belgium | Fireball 4161 | Peter Bateman & Julian Brooke-Houghton | United Kingdom |
Notes
- "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fireball (dinghy). |
- International Fireball Class website
- 2011 Fireball World Championships
- UK Fireball Association website
- Fireball France website
- Swiss Fireball website
- Irish Fireball website
- Czech Fireball website
- Fireball North America website
- Fireball Australia website
- Fireball Italy website
- Fireball South Africa website
- Fireball Japan website
- Fireball Slovenia website
- Fireball Belgium website
- 50th Anniversary UK National Championships website
- International Class Rules 2011 revision