Following consultations with Sligo Yacht Club and the Irish Fireball Class Association, Fireball International has awarded the 2011 Worlds and International Week to the Rosses Point club and the Irish Fireball Class Association. Following consultations with Sligo Yacht Club, and the Irish Fireball Class Association, Fireball International has awarded the 2011 Worlds and International Week to the west coast club and the Irish Fireball Class Association. The awarding of the event is in recognition of the local class association’s commitment to the Worlds in other locations across the World. At this early stage it is proposed that the event will be held over two weeks in June with a potential entry of around 100 Fireballs. Boats are expected to travel from Europe, Canada, Australia and possibly South Africa. The Irish fleet, already committed travellers on the international circuit, are also expected to feature strongly on the entry list. Ireland hosted the 1995 World Championship, which was won by John Lavery and David O’Brien and the 2000 European Championships were sailed in Skerries.
Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on our north-western Atlantic coastline, Sligo Yacht Club is a fantastic venue at which to hold an event of this type. The sailing area offers the prospect of good breezes and nice wave conditions for big fleet racing. A brand new clubhouse and extended slips were brought on stream for the GP 14 Worlds, which were hosted by the club in 2006. There is also access available to undercover facilities for the weighing and measuring of boats.
Despite its west coast location, Sligo can be easily accessed within a day from all Irish ferry ports and airports so trailing the boat to the event is a viable option for entries from Ireland, the UK and the western fringes of mainland Europe. Air travel would be via Dublin and Sligo Airports.
The Irish fleet will host an evening to promote Sligo 2011 at the preceding World Championship, to be held in Barbados late April 2010. A web presence will be generated on the site www.fireball-worlds.com after the Barbados event has concluded to keep people informed of the planning and marketing of the event.
