Fireball Australia

The Fireball is a one-design high-performance sailing dinghy. It is sailed by a crew of two, and sports a single trapeze, symmetric spinnaker

Fireball - It took a lot of ‘balls to build a class this good! History
Fireball’s beginnings lie in the North American A-Class scows that had attracted the interest of Peter Milne, a British boat designer. After a number of years of planning Peter built the first Fireball with the sponsorship of his employers, Norris Brothers, in a barn in Suss*x, UK during the winter of 1961/62. The pre-productio

n prototype was tested with and without a trapeze but not with a spinnaker. No doubt Peter had that option very much in mind at the outset. The unusual design attracted immediate interest but it was Fireball’s sailing performance that quickly turned heads. In a breeze the Fireball was clearly faster than established dinghies of a similar size. Designed very much with amateur construction in mind plywood hulls soon emerged from garages and living rooms around the UK and followed swiftly in Ireland and France. By 1965 sail numbers had reached 1000 and the use of a trapeze was permitted. Around this time Fireballs started to appear in Australia and it wasn’t long before they were sailing in all states. The spinnaker was introduced in 1969 and fuelled numbers further. International status was granted and the need for worldwide administration saw Fireball International being constituted. This provided further impetus for growth and by 1973 Fireball was being sailed in 68 countries. World Championships had been held each year since 1965, mainly in the UK and Europe, but in the early 70’s South Australia’s Glenelg Sailing Club put in an application for a ‘Down Under’ series and were granted the opportunity to conduct the 1974 World Championship. The first such Fireball event to be conducted in the Southern Hemisphere. Fibreglass hull construction started in Australia and while these boats looked spectacular it took until the 1990’s where a rule change enabled them to be built stronger, simpler and lighter. This lead to new moulds in the UK, Australia and Switzerland. Through the enthusiasm of her many fans Fireball reached her 50th birthday in 2012 in great shape with over 15,000 boats built. For the club sailor she remains a popular traditional single trapeze, spinnaker class and continues to attract the attention of established stars of the dinghy sailing world. The Fireball class has a long standing reputation for being a friendly class where newcomers are welcomed and sailors of all standards are encouraged to get on the water and have fun. The Boat
The Fireball stands out from other dinghies due to its
• High performance yet relatively forgiving
• Can be sailed in almost any wind strength
• Is suited to both sea and lake conditions
• Can be sailed by all male, all female or mixed crews
• Age is not a restriction
• Boats remain competitive for many years
• Truly an international class
• Fireball sailing is as much about social as racing
• Fireballs are great fun to sail
If you are looking to get more out of sailing then the Fireball could be the boat for you. An adjustable rig rules out the need for complex racks or weight equalization systems and the class rules allow flexibility to fit the boat out to suit you, making it ideal for all crew weight combinations. Fireballs plane at the drop of a hat. Anyone can sail a Fireball. Age or s*x does not determine one’s ability to be competitive. The weight and strength of the crew is not as important as the tuning of the boat. The sail handling requires skill rather than strength. Fireballs are a delight to sail in strong winds. The thrills of trapeze and spinnaker are hard to match in any type of sailboat. Fireball Success in Australia. Australia dominated the Fireball world from the early 1980’s and into the early 1990’s winning 7 World Championships in this period. Tough local competition and development in hull and rig designs saw Australians gain an advantage over international competitors. In the early and mid 1980’s Gary Smith hulls from Tasmania showed the way. Peter Delange from Melbourne continued with the design process and his boats with a wider bow section and flat rockers became the dominant hull shape. This design is still the gold standard in Fireballs and became the basis for all current moulds worldwide. Despite not winning a World Championship since 1991, Australian fleets are still very competitive posting results in the top 3 at recent international series. Australian state associations are active in promoting the class. Recently the Victorian association has upgraded the association boat to a very competitive Fireball. The boat is currently located at Royal Geelong Yacht Club where it is seeing a lot of interest and use. Victorian Fireball is showing resurgence from both ex Fireballers getting back into the class and also new younger sailors who are looking for a sailing challenge. With the 2022 World Championships recently announced to be held in Geelong we look forward to more growth in the class! More information on Fireballs can be found on the website www.fireball-international.com

14/02/2024

What a day we’ve had here in Geelong for Day 4 of the Fireball Worlds.

It was a strong and shifty Southerly that met sailors this afternoon and the teams in the top end are having to put their best foot forward to gain a lead.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

Front of the fleet takes shape as 2024 Fireball Worlds pass halfway mark - Down Under Sail

14/02/2024

📰 On what was supposed to be the lay day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds, the fifth and sixth championship races were held in switchy and gusty southerly winds to bring the event past the halfway mark.

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✍️ Harry Fisher for Down Under Sail

Front of the fleet takes shape as 2024 Fireball Worlds pass halfway mark - Down Under Sail On what was supposed to be the lay day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds, the fifth and sixth championship races were held in switchy and gusty southerly winds to bring the event past the halfway mark. The British team of Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson on North Sails Allen Bros Robline had another tidy day...

14/02/2024

Geelong has turned it on this afternoon for a successful day of racing bringing us back on track for the rest of the regatta.

The boat park is reeling with stories after some speedy racing in a shifty 20 knot Southerly.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

Royal Geelong Yacht Club

📸 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

14/02/2024

Sailors are rigged and ready for racing here at Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

Day 4 of racing presents much lighter conditions and two races on the schedule.

📸 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

14/02/2024

Fireball Veteran Brad Ginnivan took us around the boat park yesterday to chat to some of the Fireball sailors.

Vyv Townsend tells us about the World Championships he’s won whilst Mark and Andrew reflect talk about their hiatus from the class before returning here in Geelong.

Royal Geelong Yacht Club

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

13/02/2024

How many Fireball World Championships have been won by these legends?

Third day of Fireball Worlds blown out as sailors get set to sail on lay day - Down Under Sail

13/02/2024

📰 The third day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds has been blown out after a lengthy wait on shore that ultimately ended with a decision to make up the races on tomorrow’s lay day.

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✍️ Harry Fisher for Down Under Sail

Third day of Fireball Worlds blown out as sailors get set to sail on lay day - Down Under Sail The third day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds has been blown out after a lengthy wait on shore that ultimately ended with a decision to make up the races on tomorrow’s lay day. Sailors were met with winds of more than 30 knots from the north early in the day, however there was some speculation […]

13/02/2024

It’s been a waiting game here in Geelong for Day 3 of the Fireball Worlds and sailors have been doing everything they can to stay occupied.

The wind was just too strong today and didn’t allow for any racing which means our lay day tomorrow is now being used for racing.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

13/02/2024

Great to see these fireball legends have not changed 40+ years on.

Craig Ginnivan, Andrew Kean, Brad Ginnivan and Mark Chapple

13/02/2024

It's a bit windy here today in Geelong.

13/02/2024

Day 3 is another onshore AP start for sailors as we wait to see what the weather has in store for the day.

With a strong Northerly breeze this morning we are waiting to see if there is a window for racing before storms are set to roll through this afternoon.

Stay tuned...

📸 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

12/02/2024

With over 50 boats in this years Fireball Worlds it's safe to say the class loved around the world.

This year's World Championship has eight countries attending and the racing has been glamour to watch. We hear from Esteban Hernandez (FRA) and what it is that he loves about the class.

Today we are rolling into Day 3 of the event and sailors are keen to get back out on the water before a well earned lay day tomorrow.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

Still anyone's guess after mixed second day of 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong - Down Under Sail

12/02/2024

📰 The 2024 Fireball Worlds is shaping up to be one for the ages with a mix of light and heavy conditions on the second day and the results so far offering no clear premonitions at this early stage.

READ MORE 👇

✍️ Harry Fisher for Down Under Sail

Still anyone's guess after mixed second day of 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong - Down Under Sail The 2024 Fireball Worlds is shaping up to be one for the ages with a mix of light and heavy conditions on the second day and the results so far offering no clear premonitions at this early stage. Even after four races you can throw a blanket over the top 10, with a number of […]

12/02/2024

Torquay has been a hit with our International sailors over the past few weeks! After the anticipation of coming to Geelong for over two years our guests have been itching to see what Geelong and the Surf Coast have to offer.

It's safe to say that all of the sailors are loving their time here in Geelong and are ready to take on the rest of the week.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

12/02/2024

Day 2 of the Fireball Worlds is wrapped up here at Royal Geelong Yacht Club and sailors were treated to a glamour day on the water.

Two races were completed today and sailors got conditions a steady 10-15 knot southerly to get the first race going before the breeze continued to build for the second.

Time to head home and reset for Day 3 tomorrow before a lay day on Wednesday.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

📸 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

12/02/2024

Sailors are back on location after a long day yesterday and we are currently sitting under AP whilst the Race Committee head on course to see what conditions we have on offer this morning.

After a breezy Day 1 of Championship racing, sailors are looking to have a lighter day in the books for Day 2.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

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12/02/2024

11/02/2024

The opening day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club gave sailors a real heart-starter, beginning with an onshore delay and ending with strong winds in two late afternoon, early evening races. https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/271540/?source=facebook

11/02/2024

Day 1 of the Fireball Worlds was a long and hot one for sailors but nonetheless the vibes were high around the club.

With the wind finally swinging around to the south late afternoon, sailors hit the water for a some twilight racing in a glamour 20-25 knots.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

🎥 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

Big breeze greets sailors on opening day of 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong - Down Under Sail

11/02/2024

📰 The opening day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club gave sailors a real heart-starter, beginning with an onshore delay and ending with strong winds in two late afternoon, early evening races.

READ MORE 👇

✍️ Harry Fisher for Down Under Sail

Big breeze greets sailors on opening day of 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong - Down Under Sail The opening day of the 2024 Fireball Worlds at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club gave sailors a real heart-starter, beginning with an onshore delay and ending with strong winds in two late afternoon, early evening races. On a hot day in Geelong, sailors entered an on-shore postponement with racing delaye...

11/02/2024

It's Day 1 of the Fireball Worlds here at Royal Geelong Yacht Club and what a day it was!

After waiting on shore under AP for six hours, sailors hit the water for racing at 5pm in a glamour 20-25 knot Southerly.

With two races under our belt, sailors are getting ready for a big day of racing tomorrow.

📊 RESULTS: bit.ly/2024FireballWorldsResults

📸 Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail

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Videos (show all)

What a day we’ve had here in Geelong for Day 4 of the Fireball Worlds. It was a strong and shifty Southerly that met sai...

Fireball Veteran Brad Ginnivan took us around the boat park yesterday to chat to some of the Fireball sailors.Vyv Townse...

It’s been a waiting game here in Geelong for Day 3 of the Fireball Worlds and sailors have been doing everything they ca...

With over 50 boats in this years Fireball Worlds it's safe to say the class loved around the world. This year's World Ch...

Torquay has been a hit with our International sailors over the past few weeks! After the anticipation of coming to Geelo...

Day 1 of the Fireball Worlds was a long and hot one for sailors but nonetheless the vibes were high around the club.With...

Beautiful day here un Geelong. Breeze is slowly filling in.

2023 SA States at Largs Bay Sailing Club

European championship crews party early on in the evening

SUI Fireball interview – 2019 Fireball Worlds

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http://www.fireball-international.com/worldwide/fireball-australia/