CVRDA

I'll be there with Fireball 6.

Hi Andy, Having steered you away from the UKFA website for a spinnaker with a downhaul patch, sods law cuts in and one is now advertised for sale! It is very lightly used and is priced to reflect that so might not be quite what you're after. I know the seller, though, so I'm sure the sail will be as...

Hi Andy, By 1979 new boats with chutes/deck-mounted jib sheeting were definitely in the minority. The good news, though, is that your chute will be of the larger variety so all options re number of spinnaker patches are open to you. I wouldn't advise a pump system as there's a lot of friction involv...

Hi Andy, E-Bay is definitely your best bet. The ads on the UKFA website are invariably for newer kit: spinnakers without downhaul patches, carbon-wrapped poles etc. Spinnakers with downhaul patches may have one, two or three patches. If the mouth of your spinnaker chute is small (the very oldest - s...

Hi Max, As already indicated the key is to avoid wrapping the jib halyard around the spinnaker and/or main halyards. So....you might get lucky by dropping the halyard through while the mast is still upright but, for the best chance of a successful result, I'd suggest you take the mast down and tie o...

Gav - You may be interested to know that FB11079 'Slick Willie' had a pedigree: sailed by Ian Keely and John Wallace she won the 1978 Junior Nationals. From memory I think they may have been based on the east coast so the boat may well have stayed in that neck of the woods over the years. Chris Turn...

Fantastic! Let's hope she finds the good home she deserves!

Chris Turner
Fireballs 6, 66 & 14463

Hi Garry, I've sent you a pm but am not at all sure it'll reach you (struggling with technology)! If you will let me know your e-mail address I can send you some professionally-taken photos from the CVRDA Bosham event last year. I have purchased the rights so there is no problem in using them. Chris...

Hi Nessa,

I can't think of a potential buyer offhand but I'll keep my ears open!

Chris
Fireballs 6, 66 & 14463

Hi Max! Welcome to Fireballs (well, almost....once you've collected her from Roger)! You'll find a huge amount of information on the UKFA site and you may find 'Faster Fireballs', printed in 1979, particularly useful. To obtain a replacement certificate - if you want one at this point - contact the ...

Hi David,

I've sent you an e-mail.

Chris

Hi David! Nice to hear from you and, yes, definitely '6' - not '9' - on the stand! I expect to be at the show for the duration so if I'm not actually on the stand when you pass by just ask someone who is and they'll get hold of me. I can't recall if I ever received photos of '2' (the hull that has t...

2012 marks the Fireball's 50th anniversary. The UKFA is currently planning to have No 6 on the stand to remind everyone how Fireball first started life.

Chris Turner
Fireballs 6, 66 & 14463

Hi Andy, The sidetank track on 12607 ran horizontally parallel to the floor about half an inch up to provide enough room for the slide (upon which the block was mounted) to move easily. I think I customised it since the perfect solution wasn't readily available but it may well be possible to buy som...

Here's a very nice looking old Fireball. It is advertised for sale (offers invited) on the UKFA site and the owner has asked me to loop in CVRDA. http://www.fireballsailing.org.uk/classifieds/forsale_display.php?id=374 Fireball 105 was built by the current owner's father and is understood to be the ...