10 Facts about the Fireball and the Fireball Worlds

The Holt Fireball Worlds is shaping up to be THE international sailing event of 2005. The boat has been around for over 40 years, but how much do you really know about the class? We give you a quick low down.

1. The Fireball was designed in 1962 by Peter Milne. There are now 15,000 boats Worldwide.

2. The Fireball is an evolutionary one-design. The ethos of the class is to adopt new technology or innovations which reduce cost or ensure the boat retains a contemporary look. The class is careful to avoid performance enhancing changes which would make existing boats uncompetitive.

3. There are Fireball Associations in 20 countries around the World making the Class one of the most widespread international classes.

4. The largest fleet is in the UK but the class is popular across Europe. The 2004 UK, French and Italian Nationals all had in excess of 70 entries.

5. Due to the high standard of racing many of the World’s top sailors have sailed Fireballs at some time in their career. Seven Fireball UK or World Champions have subsequently won Olympic medals, including Lawrie Smith and John Merricks. Three 470 World Champions have won Fireball UK, European or World Championships, the most recent being Benoit Petit (FRA) who was both the 470 and Fireball World Champion in 1999.

6. Although the top of the fleet is highly competitive, the Class recognises that the ordinary sailor is in the majority. The emphasis is, therefore, on inclusive events run for the whole fleet rather than just for the rock stars at the front. The Fireball was one of the first classes in the UK to split Nationals results into Gold, Silver and Bronze to give everyone, whatever their level, something to race for. A buddy system also matches boats at the front and back to give the average club sailor a chance to learn from a World Champion, but also more importantly to enable those new to the class to quickly make friends.

7. The first Fireball Worlds was held at Hayling Island in 1966.

8. Since 2000, the Fireball Worlds have been held in Thailand, Italy, USA, Kenya and Australia. The 2006 Worlds is in Canada.

9. This years event at Teignmouth will be the class’s 39th Worlds. There are currently over 160 boats entered from 15 countries, including Australia, South Africa, Canada and Kenya.

10. Although several people have won the Worlds twice, only two have won it three times: Australian John Dransfield who won three on the trot (1989, 1990 and 1991) and the UK’s Ian Pinnell who took slightly longer to earn his three titles (1988, 1994 and 2002).