International Fireball
3 Seasons
Many Fireballs are amateur-built, a good indication of the simplicity of the design. The Fireball hull and sail plans have strict limitations in design, but the class rules allow you to adapt the position and design of gear to suit your own weight and style of sailing.
Anyone can sail a Fireball. Age or sex does not determine one’s ability to be competitive. Some countries leading Fireball sailors are women. The class also has a strong contingent of sailors over forty.
Winning Fireball races is not really a question of having an amateur or professionally built, plywood or fibreglass, old or new boat, but rather comes down to mastering the art of tuning, and sailing better than your competition.
Fireballs are a delight to sail in strong winds. The thrills of trapeze and spinnakers are hard to match in any type of sailboat or board. If capsized, the boats are easily righted, and can be sailed without bailing. The weight and strength of the crew is not as important as the tuning of the boat. The trapeze and sail handling requires skill rather than strength.
The Fireball is an International Class, with fleets in every region of the world, and associations conducts yearly World, Continental, National and State Championships.
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09:32Episode 1John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2016
Episode 1
The Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2016. Storms Imogen and Henry arrived in the UK for the weekend of the iconic Tiger Trophy - chaotic weather conditions for over 150 sailors with epic footage of extreme sailing at its best. The 420 youth duo Robbie King and Marcus Tressler...
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2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week - Day 1
Episode 2
Day 1 of the 2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week started in gorgeous British summer conditions hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club. Due to tides, racing started early at 10:00 with a pleasant twelve knot Easterly pushing the boats round the course. We speak to Chris Turner and Jono Loe about thei...
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2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week - Day 2
Episode 3
Hayling Island is coming down with a Feva!!! The RS Feva fleet is dominant out on the water with their fluorescent kites making them easily recognisable. Today we talk to a couple of young crews who have definitely caught the sailing bug. Terrific to see so many young people out on the water!
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2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week - Day 3
Episode 4
Race Week continues on Chichester Harbour. A stiff south-easterly and sunny conditions meant Day 3 went smoothly. We spoke to members of the Fast Handicap Division made up of a variety of boats from lightweight International Canoes to classic Flying Fifteens. After racing the competitors enjoyed ...
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2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week - Day 4
Episode 5
After an hour's postponement this morning due to a lack of breeze, Day 4 of Chichester Harbour Race Week kicked off to a increasing south westerly. Taking a look at the spectrum of boats today demonstrating the diversity of sailors here at Hayling Island. From Optimists to RS Elites, it doesn't m...
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2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week - FInal Day
Episode 6
Sore heads were met by grey skies on the final day of Chichester Harbour Race Week. After a 4-day streak of champagne sailing conditions, the tide turned at Hayling Island with nasty squalls rolling through causing the race committee to abandon racing. An early pack up and a crowded prize marking...
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03:36Episode 7Datchet Flyer 2016 - Day
Episode 7
This weekend saw the Datchet Flyer, part of the Sailjuice.com Winter Series return to Datchet Water Sailing Club. We filmed this regatta last year, in storm force conditions as our first event. This time, we saw much lighter conditions with the boats launching in next to no wind. Three handicap r...
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04:29Episode 8Datchet Flyer 2016 - Day 2
Episode 8
Day Two - Datchet Flyer 2016, part of the Sailjuice.com Winter Series hosted by Datchet Water Sailing Club. Saskia Clark, VRsport.tv Presenter, chats to the competitors both on and off the water about their experience and tactics for the Flyer. One long pursuit race for everyone and wind conditio...
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05:58Episode 9Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash 2016
Episode 9
The Draycote Dash is the start of the UK's Sailjuice.com Winter Series hosted by Draycote Sailing Club over two days. Craig Williamson in his Laser, won the Dash Pursuit with the GP14 duo, Fergus Barnham and Andy Hunter, second to mirror the over night leader board. Peter Gray and Andy Davis (Sco...
