It all started in September 1999 when I bought my first Fireball – the first boat I ever bought myself! In the sailing clubs in France you are actually given a boat to sail the standard of which depends on your race results. Having talked to few Fireball sailors form Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club (the Clarke brothers and John Walsh) I was told that a good Fireball might be coming on the market soon so I inquired and bought it. Even though she was built in ‘92 she had most of the features of the new design boats and also a good racing history in the hands of Mick Creighton.

From there I had to find a crew and learn how this new machine had to be rigged. This was made easy, thanks to John and the Clarke brothers who gave me a helping hand. The next step was to sail… a piece of cake !!! I don’t think so, I tell you, for an old design boat the Fireball has nothing to fear from those new –Speedboats. She is as wild as a young stallion…you can’t let her control you… Oh no, otherwise you better be a good swimmer.

I have sailed in a wide range of racing dinghies before in my sailing career but this boat is, if not the most exciting certainly one of the most. Furthermore, the Fireball sailors themselves are an example to be followed by others.

As a new sailor to the fleet I knew nobody but in a short period of time I had made loads of new friends each offering me advice and making me feel welcome. This is a great fleet to be in, not only for the competitive spirit, but for the craic and the great atmosphere. The other good thing that I’ve discovered is that they’ve split the fleet in two. The Gold fleet and the Silver fleet which gives everyone something to aim at. There is a terrific solidarity in the class, which was very evident to me on Saturday 29^th of January: While I was towing my boat to Dublin Port to be put the container with the others, for the World Championships in Thailand I was rear-ended by two young #**$## (Pardon my French) who partially destroyed my boat, my car and hurt my neck too. From there on it was all out of my control. It was as if the – plan hors sec*- had been implemented and within a matter of hours, thanks to Mick Connolly, I had another boat to sail in Thailand, and the container was ready to leave. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all the Fireball sailors who helped me out that awful day it was a fantastic example of solidarity… Thanks to you all…

Gilbert