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 have a strict minimum weight limit of 175 lb .
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 and its D-PN is 85.6.

Events

World Championships

European Championships

YearEventVenueBoatHelm and CrewCountry
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