#fireball – As previously reported on this website, the Irish Fireball Class is hosting an Open Day this Saturday, 30th November, to provide people who are interested an opportunity to see what makes Fireball sailing so exciting!
The intention is to run two sessions from the Irish National Sailing School in the western corner of Dun Laoghaire harbour, starting at 11:00 and 13:30 respectively. We will begin with an explanation and tour of the boat on shore and will support that with video footage of Fireballs in action. The intention then will be to get attendees out on the water for a session afloat in the company of experienced Fireballers. Hot showers and a debrief will be available in the INSS after the session on the water.
The Irish Fireball Class runs a five-regatta summer season of racing and supports the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club's Frostbite Series over the winter Sundays from early November through to the end of March. This means that if you have the time and appetite you can race a Fireball all year round. In addition to our domestic activities we have, in recent years, been active on the international front with 6 boats in Slovenia in September past for the Europeans and Worlds, 6 boats in Bracciano, Italy for the 2012 Europeans, hosted the Fireball Worlds in 2011 in Sligo, had 5/6 boats in Barbados for the Worlds in 2010 and a boat in the Czech Republic for the 2010 Europeans. In 2013, an Irish boat contested the UK Nationals and three Irish boats contested the UK Inland Championships.
Looking to the future, the 2014 Worlds are in Thailand in March, while the 2014 Europeans are much closer to home, with the Shetlands hosting this regatta in late July. The UK Nationals, which is always a big fleet affair, is being hosted in Wales in 2014, a short hop from the ferry port of Holyhead, with Dun Laoghaire being the port of departure for Holyhead!
In 2015, the Fireball Worlds come to Wales, which is bound to generate a huge fleet and this will be sailed as part of a two-week festival of Fireball sailing. In 2016, the Class will travel to the east coast of South Africa and Mossel Bay for the Worlds.
So, in addition to being an exciting boat to race, we are a class that offers opportunities to travel to great locations for international events.
Saturday's Open Day could open a doorway to all these events, if you have the appetite!
RSVP: [email protected]
Mobile: (On the day) 086 190 8463
