5 September 2013
In 2012 the Fireball class celebrated its 50th anniversary. While the celebrations have ended, the challenge of keeping our class relevant and modern in today's world remains. To that end, we have written and approved a strategic plan outlining our goals and action plan for Fireball International. If you have not yet read the plan, please do so. It is available on the FI website and your feedback is welcome.
Our new website, developed under the direction of Ben Schulz, has proven to be a major success. In addition to an updated look and feel, the content is impressive. The website is our primary marketing and branding tool and does an excellent job of showcasing the class, the boat, and activities all over the world. Traffic on the site has been very good.
The Fireball International facebook group has grown to over 500 members, serving to facilitate communication between Fireball sailors everywhere. Facebook can be used to promote events, share technical information and other ideas, and keep in touch. Please spread the word and encourage Fireballers everywhere to join.
Fireball International has approved a new constitution. Beyond some necessary housekeeping, we have redefined our approach to membership. Our new definition recognizes that the Fireball is a two man boat and that crews are full and valued members of our association. We need everyone's input to make the class as successful as possible.
We have instituted a three year horizon for World Championships. Schedules announced well in advance permit better organization and marketing of the events, and allow for better vacation planning. This year we are gathering in Slovenia; in March of 2014 we will be going to Thailand and the World Championships in 2015 will be in Wales. Choosing venues and dates that will please everyone is truly challenging. Our status as an international class demands geographic rotation and provides an exciting opportunity for travel. We are interesting in promoting fleet development internationally and encouraging as many sailors as possible to experience racing in a World Championship event.
The Fireball class is facing many challenges. Participation has been fairly constant, but we are not witnessing significant growth. The class is healthier in Europe than elsewhere in the world, but even within Europe activity is uneven. There are far too many countries where fleets have disappeared or risk disappearing. Our fleet needs more young sailors, as the average age of the fleet has been steadily rising. High travel and shipping costs, difficult economic times, and limited resources have added constraints to all.
It is gratifying to witness active interest in our class by professional builders, sail makers and other members of the industry. FI is interested in working closely with the industry to develop new markets and promote increased sales.
Fleet development is ultimately local. By sharing enthusiasm for the boat, inviting others to sail, and organizing and encouraging activity, the class can and will grow. Active NCAs can promote growth by providing the right mix of local and national events, and ensuring media coverage. Fireball International can help by raising the profile of the class, sharing best practices for fleet development, and by implementing desirable technological improvements. Everyone has a role to play.
The challenges are real, but there are opportunities to grow and develop. We will continue to focus on fleet development.
I would like to thank the FI executive for their commitment to the Fireball class. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and talented team around the world working hard for our class.
Joe Jospe
1.1. It has been a long time since the last world championships in Mandurah, Australia and consequently there is a lot of activity to report.
2.1. AD continues to foster good working relationships with ISAF secretariat to promote Fireball and ensure swift resolution of any issues the class may have.
2.2. AD continues to administer the ISAF Plaques on behalf of the class and ISAF. This is a balancing act as AD has no formal way of knowing when plaques will be required from professional and amateur builders and plaques ordered from ISAF and held for issue by FI must be paid for on request. Consequently ensuring there are always plaques available is a challenge. The system set up with PG as Treasurer for invoicing Plaques is now working well. There is also a steady stream of sailors needing replacement plaques as they have lost or damaged the original.
2.3. There have been several instances where AD has had to approach ISAF on behalf of individual sailors. AD has been able to contact the correct people in ISAF and resolve the issue with minimal delay.
2.4. ISAF has a database of Fireball world championships. AD is assisting in ensuring the data is correct. Please let him know if you identify any corrections that are needed.
2.5. To retain its International status the class must comply with ISAF's regulations and complete annual returns. AD has submitted these and ensured they are completed in a manner which optimises the image of the class.
2.6. AD was requested to make a presentation at the 2012 ISAF IM seminar on the Fireball method of event equipment checking (measurement).
2.7. AD attended the 2012 ISAF annual conference in Dublin. In addition to attending the formal International classes' meeting this is an important part of ensuring the class stays high on the international sailing radar.
3.1. The issues in GBR with Fireball sails at one of the major multi fleet regattas were unfortunately too well reported in all the sailing press. AD assisted UKFA in securing a formal rule interpretation and preparing a press release on behalf of the class to clarify matters and limit the reputational damage.
3.2. AD is working with Fireball owners in BEL to re-establish a formal NCA. He has also been approached by one of the premier clubs in BEL about the potential for Fireball joining a major multi class regatta they are proposing. The Fireball input is being progressed in conjunction with the RC Europe.
3.3. AD has been approached by POL Fireball owners and is currently negotiating the potential to establish an NCA.
4.1. AD now has the codes to post to the new web site although there are still some issues with posting attachments to documents.
4.2. The FI office continues to receive emails and enquiries on all subjects from how to run a world championship to advice on how to buy a boat.
4.3. The latest sail number issued is 15103. The FI office continues to provide the documentation associated with registering new boats; ISAF plaques, sail numbers, measurement form etc and documentation for change of owner.
4.4. There has been a steady stream of requests for self-build plans and then enquiries from the builders. The plans are then printed and despatched together with the building instructions. Like ISAF plaques there is a need to try and judge when to get plans printed so there is not too much stock but they are available for dispatch. Thanks should go to Architect's practice AGD in Darlington UK who are happy to accommodate FI's requests for A0 plan printing.
4.5. The FI office has always issued the annual membership stickers to the NCAs. The introduction of the membership cards in 2013 has added to this task, particularly as it appears that some NCAs have not grasped the principle behind the membership cards.
4.6. As usual AD has been liaising with builders and sail makers on a whole range of issues.
5.1. AD continues to be instrumental in ensuring the class delivers the quality of championships sailors have come to expect.
5.2. All the following events have had and will benefit from this invaluable input from AD.
5.3. On the back of this reputation AD has been approached by other international classes seeking advice on how AD delivers the Fireball championship package. The classes have included Contenders, Enterprise, GP 14, 5O5 and RS.
2012 Worlds Mandurah AUS
5.4. AD combined the responsibilities of FI Secretary with being a member of the International Jury to assist with the budget. As being a member of the Jury is in itself is a full time job this placed additional pressures on AD.
5.5. Customs and import regulations in Australia preventing the import of wooden goods meant that FI's wooden trophies could not be presented at the championship. In addition all other trophies had to be removed from their wooden cases and repacked for shipping. Reuniting the trophies with their cases is still an ongoing issue and is unlikely to be fully resolved until the 2015 UK worlds.
5.6. AD has also had a stream of contact about additional container charges post event. There is a need to nail this issue or it will have a detrimental impact on the number of boats travelling. It seems to be a particular problem in GBR at present.
5.7. There have also been issues with locating trophies which were put in containers but this appears to now be resolved.
2012 Europeans Bracciano ITA
5.8. AD assisted the club in managing the additional requirements of the Italian sailing federation. The championship had the usual challenges and some new ones due to changes in the usual delivery team.
SLO 2013
5.9. As usual AD visited the site to ensure the hosts were clear what Fireball expects for its championships. He ensured the NOR and then the SIs were prepared to FI's requirements and generally assisted the local organising committee and sailors with their pre event questions.
5.10. If first impressions are anything to go by this is going to be a great event.
2014 Worlds RVYC Thailand
5.11. The process to confirm the venue for this championship has been much more complicated than most. AD had made approaches to a club in Turkey but following unfavourable reactions from some NCAs coupled with the current political situation in the area it was decided this was not an appropriate time to go with the location.
5.12. Several other venues were considered; but wind strengths were not favourable or the venue was too industrialised etc so they were rejected. The firm favourite of Thailand was thus chosen although it was not until options for hosting from other locations in Thailand were rejected as logistically impossible that RVYC was confirmed as the venue. It is a good job that RVYC are understanding and have used the Fireball way as their template for delivering other classes. This meant they could agree at short notice and know exactly what is required.
5.13. All issues are now in hand and AD is working with Rut Subniran and RVYC to build on previous events and ensure this will be another great championship.
SHE 2014
5.14. AD was asked to attend the Shetland boat show to assist with promoting the event and securing sponsorship. A promotional video was also made. He combined this with meeting the organising committee and viewing the amendments to facilities that have been made at Lerwick Boating Club and in the harbour. It is expected that any problems will be sorted out early as the organising committee have worked with AD before.
5.15. Bruce Leask the PRO will be at the SLO worlds to assist in promotion and to catch up with Fireball requirements.
5.16. The SHE organising committee is seeking sponsorship for the event but is being hampered by the lack of European presence on the FI web site.
GBR 2015
5.17. AD has been asked to organise the event for the UKFA based on his delivery record. He was asked to identify a venue and UKFA have chosen the venue from AD's suggestions.
5.18. AD has established contact with the chosen host club and had a long meeting to discuss FI's requirements. This was very positive as AD was able to build on existing relationship with the club; all issues on track.
5.19. The FI communications officer has been posting initial press bulletins.
5.20. AD has established team with UKFA for delivery. They will be meeting shortly.
2016
5.21. RSA have made contact and are keen to host the event. AD has had two SKYPE meetings with their team. He has also spoken to his contacts who have knowledge of the area to get independent views on the venue suitability & security. The UKFA's concerns have been passed on and will be taken into consideration in any final decision.
6.1. This has been another busy year for Fireball.
Andrew Davies
August 2013
Profit & Loss Account
Income has increased by £850 in 2012 compared to the prior year. The main movements in the period relate to an increase in championship fees offset by a reduction in income from selling plaques for new boats. 2012 benefitted from levies from two championships, the World Championships in Australia at the beginning of the year followed by the Europeans in Italy in July. As a result, we received FI levies of £2,665 in the year, compared to £1,180 received in 2011 from the World/European Championship in Ireland. To offset this, only 14 new boat plaques were sold in 2012, versus 18 in 2011, resulting in lower plaque income. However, subscription incomes remain low due to further credits being raised as more debtor issues have been cleared, as in 2011.
Overall expenditure in 2012 is comparable with 2011. 2012 expenditure does however include £1,000 spent on the development of the new Fireball International website. This supports our strategy of focussing on the promotion and development of the fleet.
The net result is a loss for the year of £1,956 (loss of £3,111 in 2011). Fewer credits are expected in 2013 against old debtors, and as we still hold a bad debt provision of £800, I anticipate a return to a breakeven position next year.
Balance Sheet
Debtors have decreased in 2012 to £3,700, from £8,000 in 2011, due to resolving debtor queries. Many thanks to those NCA's who have assisted with this. I still have more debtor queries to resolve and require improved communication from some NCA's , but the situation has vastly improved in 2012. Cash at bank has increased by nearly £2,000 to £18,500, and our creditors have remained constant at £11,400. Creditors comprises in the main monies owed to Andrew Davies and amounts owed to Norris Brothers as plaque commission.
Actions for 2013
Penny Gibbs
Treasurer Fireball International
5 September 2013
Day-to-Day Business
As usual, there have been rule interpretation questions from NCAs, sail makers, boat builders and individuals. Most of these questions were forwarded to the Technical Committee by the Class Secretary, but a significant number were raised on the various websites, and some were addressed directly to the Technical Committee Chairman.
Examples of questions brought up since the last World Championships include:
- The legality of carbon countdown watch mounts (Robin Inns, AUS);
- Recommended tolerances for wood boat builders (Dave White, USA);
- The use of "soft" rigging (Peter Kelly, CAN); and
- The legality of "string" sails (lots and lots of people, UK).
Rule Changes
Since the last World Championships, Rule IFCR 9.1.5 was changed to reduce the depth of the gunwhale rubbers from 15 mm to 10 mm. This was done to give boat builders the option of using a roll-over type of construction to mate the hull shell to the deck shell.
Rule Change Proposals
The following rule change proposals will be forth for voting this fall:
- Defining additional sail reinforcement dimensions (e.g. batten pocket outer dimensions, tabling widths…);
- Allowing a mainsail flattening reef point;
- Updating the spinnaker measurements to be fully compliant with ISAF terminology; and
- Allowing sail makers to undertake in-house certifications;
Development
A review of the measurement methods for the jibs is still underway as the current method set out by ISAF doesn't really work. ISAF is looking into whether their jib measurement methods can be modified to improve the repeatability of measurement, but it might be required to introduce additional measurement points in the jib over and above the ISAF requirements.
The identification of NCA-nominated measurers is still a problem. Basically, FI does not know who these measurers are, and it makes sail measurement and compliance very difficult at international championships. A database of measurers and signatures is needed to make sure things go smoothly at future championships. Various options, including FI-supplied measurement stamps; sail buttons; Web-based sail registration; and in-house certification by the sail makers are all options that are being considered.
Phil Locker (CAN) has been given permission to trial composite booms.
The technical committee has been working on the design of a steel shipping rack that would allow for the transport of ten boats (eight on their trolleys) in a high-cube 40' container. This approach would make it easier, and much quicker, to pack and unpack containers.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Egli, Fireball International Technical Committee Chairman
This year we have built a new web site for Fireball International which aims to be a one stop shop. A number of the NCA's have shut their sites and merged into the FI site. Each NCA has been given a login and instructions on how to post to the site. I am also happy to give one on one training via skype. To date only 3 of the NCA's have been posting their information. It would be great if the others can get onto the site and post news, events and photos so the site has a true international representation.
On the FI site under the Admin tab I have written up some marketing ideas that could be implemented by local NCA's to boost fleet numbers. Australia as noted above is trying the "Team Fireball" concept.
Communication is still a large problem with our class. Few of the NCA's are making contact regarding marketing and publicity. Many don't respond to emails and some I don't have contact details for such as France, Germany and Belgium. I am happy to offer help with local marketing and fleet development but it still relies on local support and cooperation.
At a world level, Cormac Bradley has been working as the fleet's publicity officer, getting articles published on a number of web sites and in magazines. Again lack of supply of information to try and get published is often the problem.
It has been suggested that we need a marketing person in Europe who is in contact with the European NCA's and can coordinate both the collecting of information for articles as well as marketing on the ground level. If you know of a person who would be suited to this role please let us know.
After Slovenia the next main events are the 2014 Europeans in the Shetland Islands and the 2014 Worlds in Thailand. There are three pages on the FI website dedicated to the worlds in Thailand with more to follow. The Europeans will appear on the events page and we will publish information as it is supplied to us.
The 2015 worlds in Wales has been announced and Tim Saunders from the UK will be working with Cormac and myself to promote the event.
The 2016 world's venue will be announced soon and once it is known we can use it to publicize the class.
It would be great to get some feedback from the smaller NCA's as to the state of their fleets and what type of marketing and publicity would be beneficial. I expect that each region will have some specific needs as well as there being a common need.
In closing, we need each NCA to supply more information, in English and straight after their events. So we can use it to promote the class. We need each NCA to post onto the FI website. We need each NCA to promote their upcoming events on the FI website and we need each NCA to post photos onto the gallery on the FI web site. None of this is hard and doesn't take a lot of time to do so we would appreciate your support.
Ben Schulz
Following on from the Australian Worlds, the biggest step forward for the marketing and communications aspects of FI has been the development of the new website and our attempts to conduct more business on-line via Skype.
However, it would be rather presumptuous of me to claim any significant contribution to these initiatives as I have struggled with the Skype conference calls since their inception and I have been completely dependent on Ben Schulz to post my contributions to the website. I have begun to despair of Skype and fear that if I tamper with the website I will do damage!!!!
While the website has a good international flavour with Swiss, Czech, UK, South African and Irish content, there is the danger that the bulk of the people who visit the site are already Fireballers.
The UK and Irish Fleets have ready access to Yachts and Yachting which we must presume be a more widely read website for people who are not necessarily Fireball people. With that premise in mind we may need to give consideration to putting a condensed compendium of news from our website onto the Y&Y website so that it can be accessed to a wider, non-Fireball audience.
While I don't have the figures for the "hits" on Fireball stories on the Y&Y website, some figures for the Afloat website, the indigenous Irish site make for interesting reading.
Report on the Fireball Ulsters (mid June 2013) - over 900 hits.
Closing Report on the Irish Fireball Nationals (mid July 2013) - close to 400 hits.
(Supplemented by daily reports on all three days of the regatta.)
Tuesday night racing in Dublin Bay - normally between 150 and 200 hits.
Since the commencement of the Frostbite Series on the Sundays from Halloween to Easter and the Tuesday night races from early may through to the end of August, there has been a Fireball report on the website of Afloat within hours of the race completing. In limited instances, race reports for a Tuesday were posted within an hour of the race finishing.
One would like to think that the number of hits that the Irish reports generate locally would be significantly magnified on Y&Y and our own website as they cater for much bigger audiences.
Contact has been made with the 2015 hosts for the Worlds to engage with them on promoting the "Welsh Worlds", at the invitation of Jez White, Chairman of UKFA, but I imagine the individual who is the contact person for Pwllheli Sailing Club is suffering from regatta overload with the club hosting Laser 2000 Nationals, 420 & 470 Nationals and 470 Junior Europeans in successive weeks since contact was first made immediately after the UK Fireball nationals and my conversations/E-mails with Joe Jospe and Jez White.
Once Slovenia is concluded I will start the processes for Thailand, Shetland, the Welsh Worlds and the venue for 2016, assuming this last date is confirmed in our meetings in Slovenia.
I have noted Ben's suggestion about establishing a Marketing person in Europe and I agree with his sentiments on this matter.
My preview of the Slovenia regatta was E-mailed to the ISAF website (together with Y&Y, Afloat and Scuttlebutt) and made their front page for a period of time. With their turnover of stories, it doesn't get to stay there too long but we did get it up.
One of the problems with the Communications portfolio is trying to establish lines of responsibility. ISAF is a case in point. As the governing body for sailing does communication with them fall under the Communications portfolio or the Secretariat portfolio? Or should there be two distinct streams of communication? The document that proposed job descriptions for the Exco needs to be considered to make sure that;
a) We are not duplicating conversations.
b) We are not stepping on each others' toes, and
c) The left and right hand each know what the other is doing.
I am guilty of talking to people within the Exco who I believe are sympathetic to my views or ideas and don't make enough effort to engage with those who have a contrary view. This dilutes our quest for common goals and is something that I need to address.
Cormac Bradley
06 September 2013.
The report by John Heywood, President of Fireball Australia summaries well the current position of Fireball sailing down under. Numbers are steady in South Australia but are falling in the other states. Sailing as a whole is suffering a bit, as is sport in general with people having so many other commitments and distractions.
Yachting Australia for a number of years has had a policy of supporting Olympic feeder classes only. This is driven by their funding which comes from the Olympic team budget. While we can see their dilemma it is frustrating that the top sailors from non-Olympic classes miss out on coaching while also rans who buy the right type of boat get it all.
Fireball Australia has committed to put up a fight and are willing to use some of their surplus funds to help promote the class. They are aiming to set up a "Team Fireball" squad starting with a few Optimists. The plan is to make the chosen sailors part of a Fireball squad, offering them coaching, subsidized entry fees, cheap sails and sailing kit. In exchange they will have to wear the "Team Fireball" kit at events and have stickers on their boats. The aim is to make Fireball appear cool in front of all the kids and have them wanting to be associated with Fireballs. Longer term we hope this will encourage them to buy Fireballs.
Unfortunately no-one from Australia will make it to Slovenia. It became too expensive to buy or lease a boat in the UK, send it across and sail. We will have a container going to Thailand with about 8 boats. The feeling of the fleet was that a fresh venue would have sparked more interest, particularly from those who have been to Pattaya for the past worlds.
Over the next few years Fireball Australia will have to fight hard to keep the states other than South Australia alive. NSW, Victoria and Western Australia are just holding together small fleets with their sailors all in their 50's to 60's. We will do our best to keep the fleet going in these states by offering support and financial aid.
Ben Schulz
In March, 2015, Davis Island Yacht Club will hold the 50th Anniversary Fireball Midwinter Regatta. This is extraordinary support for our class through the decades, and with a combination week with the U.S. Fireball Nationals will be an attractive opportunity for overseas visitors to join us for spring training and competition.
Cascade Locks, Oregon, has hosted Fireball racing annually for the past five years at the CGOD regatta. This year CGRA hosted the Tasar Class World Championship , and notable Fireballers Heather Macfarlane, Chris Payne, and Julian Hannabuss were racing. We were parked next to an English group who had three Tasars delivered from Southampton to Tacoma in a very neat three boat trailer which was shipped roll-on roll-off. This might be an interesting idea for the Technical Committee to pursue when the ten boat container design is finished.
The North American Fireball fleet is actually composed of a group of scattered fleets with considerable distances between groups. "Adjacent" fleets are separated by 2-8 driving hours and generally only compete together a couple times per year. Our development is therefore very dependent on local fleet enthusiasm and recruitment. We have inquiries every year in North America from prospective amateur builders but have not had updated plans and "wide-bow" instructions available. Greg Desilets in Portland has completed a very nice wooden boat to replace his previous Fireball, and has computer files and a jig comparable to the Quebec Association's Blanco system. I think it would be useful for the Technical Committee to review this as an opportunity to assist us with growth in North America.
2013 has seen a respectable series of regattas this year with the Tampa Midwinters attracting Fireballs from all four corners of North America, and a good fleet at Pymatuning, Ohio, for the U.S. Nationals. CGOD at Cascade Locks, had ten boats and was notable in that all of the boats were of the wide-bow shape. Fireballs returned to Kingston for the NA Championship, and the Canadian Nationals were held in Squamish, B.C. , a windsurfing mecca between Vancouver and Whistler. The standard of racing which I have observed has improved over the last seven years since the 2006 World's in Victoria, and we have good potential for fleet-building in two or three areas, with fine boats available for sale at reasonable prices.
We have had five new(ish) boats measured this spring and one remaining to be done, depending on logistics. We have the last batch of boats imported after the 2010 World's in Barbados being sailed competitively in Eastern Canada. We have pursued efforts to recruit a younger generation of sailors to our fleets and are presenting attractive fleets at our major regattas, with some loaner boats available.
The FI Executive has been concentrating on a couple of issues. The boat measurement is relatively stable with a forthcoming reduction of total weight by 3 kg; I argued against this for the past fifteen years in order to preserve our ability to have competitive amateur-built boats, but I think it will be possible to keep to 170 pound hulls with care and experience. Tom Egli has a project to adjust our sail measurement rules to conform to ISAF techniques without changing our actual sailplan.
I would like to thank Peter Wirth for his time and enthusiasm as USIFA President, and welcome Clay Poulson who has been sailing worldwide and is promoting Fireball in Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks also to Pierre Carpentier and Mike McEvoy for work with the CFA.
Robert Thompson
John Heywood
