Very few successful, long-lasting dinghy designs happen by accident. The Fireball is no exception and was designed by Peter Milne to meet a need: to bridge the gap between small family-type centre boarders and the larger, more expensive classes.
Designed by Peter Milne in 1962, the International Fireball is a one-design high performance sailing dinghy. It is sailed by a crew of two, and has a trapeze and a symmetric spinnaker. The hull, designed for planing at low speeds, is scow-shaped, and has a single chine. Milne’s idea was to design a boat that was cheap and simple to build and maintain, gave exciting performance for the price and length, and had an individual appearance.
First reviewed in Yachts and Yachting, March 1962, with Norris Brothers as his sponsors, and Jack Chippendale building the first boats, the Fireball was an immediate success. By May of that year 73 sets of plans had been sold for self-build, and at least one company was selling complete boats for £188.
The Fireball’s underwater hull shape made it easy to plane even in light winds. Its narrow hull shape gave it added speed but necessitated a trapeze to keep the boat upright. The Fireball class is strictly controlled, but has been adapted over the years to meet changing demands of its crews and advances in building techniques. Hulls may be wood or composite, and there are many home built versions sailing. The majority of boats are now professionally built in advanced composites.
The Museum’s Fireball Allèz, K24, was built in 1963 by Jack Chippendale. The trapeze was probably supplied when the boat was new, as the rules were changed to allow them in that year. Although the French word ‘Allez’ does not have an accent, the owner decided it should, but when he realised the accent was the wrong way round on the letter “e” of the boat’s name, he decided to leave it so as to make the boat more distinctive.
The boat has had a spinnaker chute fitted since being built, together with a number of minor modifications in accordance with the class rules, in order to keep it competitive.
Dimensions
Length 4.93m
Beam 1.37m
Draft, centreboard down, 1.22m
