Gillard and Thompson Will Defend World Fireball Title in Geelong, Australia

23rd September 2023

Afloat.ie Team

Current Fireball World and European Champions, Tom Gillard, and Andy Thompson Credit: Urs Hardi

Current Fireball World and European Champions, Tom Gillard, and Andy Thompson of Larne in Country Antrim will defend their World title in Geelong, Australia, next year.

"We have several Irish competitors entered, and after a strong showing by the Irish teams at the previous Worlds and at the just completed Europeans, it would be great to see a few more make the trip down under," says organiser Chris Payne.

The 2024 Fireball Worlds will be hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) in Victoria, in February 2024.

Over 40 Fireballs have registered so far.

Published in Fireball

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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).