Butler and Oram Set the Pace at Killaloe's Fireball Munsters

19th May 2012

Afloat.ie Team

Butler and Oram Set the Pace at Killaloe's Fireball Munsters

#FIREBALL – On the opening day of the Irish Fireball season, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram set the pace, bagging three race wins from four races and effectively continuing where they finished off in the Frostbite season writes Cormac Bradley.

19 Fireballs have made the trip to Killaloe for the Munster Championships and the Classic Fireball Championship. Sailing in dull misty conditions the day started in winds of about 15 knots which gradually dropped to 8-10 knots with big shifts.

In overall terms the 1-2-3 is as follows;

Noel Butler & Stephen Oram 3pts

Barry McCartin & Finbarr Bradley 6pts

Neil Spain & Hugh Butler 8pts

In the Classic challenge, Neil Colin & Margaret Casey are fighting it out with Ciaran Harken. Colin/Casey have forgone their usual steed, 14775, in favour of 14330 in order to show his commitment to the cause of the promoting the older boats.

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Fireball

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Fireball: 60 years of history

Designed in 1962 by British naval architect Peter Milne, the Fireball is a two-person dinghy with spinnaker and trapeze, combining simplicity of construction, high performance and accessibility. Over the years, it has been a training ground for generations of sailors, developing skills in tactics and technique, and producing champions who later moved on to Olympic and offshore challenges. More than half a century later, it remains one of the most vibrant and passionate classes, also thanks to initiatives such as the Under 25 category, designed to engage new generations and keep the tradition alive.

At A Glance – Fireball Dinghy Specs

Crew 2 (single trapeze)
LOA 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
Beam 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m)
Hull weight 175 lb (79 kg)
Mast height 22.3 ft (6.8 m)
Mainsail area 108 sq ft (10.0 m2).
Jib / Genoa area 35 sq ft (3.3 m2).
Spinnaker area 140 sq ft (13 m2).