No Racing on Day One of the Fireball Worlds on Lough Derg

21st August 2022

Cormac Bradley

Competitors in the Fireball World Championship fleet head homeward after no racing on day one of the Championship on Lough Derg due to lack of wind Credit: Con Murphy

There was no sailing today at the GUL Fireball World Championships on Lough Derg in County Tipperary.

The Race Officer held the fleet ashore as there was no wind in the proposed race area. He went afloat in a rib to assess the wind and recorded speeds of less than two knots.

When the Race Committee went afloat, the wind strength did not reach the minimum requirement set by the Race Officer.

It flickered above the 5-knot minimum briefly but never developed across the course. N over A was signalled at 16:15.

Fireball World Championships on Lough Derg

Published in Fireball, Inland Waterways

Published in Fireball

Tagged under

Fireball

About The Author

Cormac Bradley

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Dublin Bay Fireballer Cormac Bradley was appointed Rear Commodore of the International Fireball Class in 2017. He is a regular dinghy and one design correspondent on Afloat.ie

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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).