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
| 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 |