The next event on the Irish Fireball regatta circuit is the Ulsters, hosted by East Down Yacht Club on Strangford Lough on the weekend of 19/20th June.
Cormac Bradley
Class Chairman.

Fireball Coaching weekend 17th/18th April

The club held a very successful coaching session for our Fireballers over the weekend.  The coaching team were Neil Colin and Margaret Casey who sail a Fireball together in Dublin.  Neil is a very experienced Fireballer and had lots of good tips to offer us.  The emphasis was on the practicalities of sailing a Fireball and what you need to focus on.   Boat setup is important but for older boats while setup needs to be reasonable more can be gained by looking for opportunities outside the boat during a race.   We had 9 Fireballs from KSC and 4 from Dublin clubs involved over the weekend in light airs.  All came away afterwards having gained a better understanding of their own boat and what they need to do to improve.

Fireball Summer Series Cup Results

See results here ..   Michael Campion and John Bolger

Fireball Munster Championships.  were held this year in Dunmore East on 26th 7 27th Sept.  This venue has been a very good location for Fireball events and Waterford Harbour Sailing Club are excellent hosts for our visits to Dunmore East.   Most boats arrived there on a sunny Friday afternoon and got their boats rigged and tuned for the event.  Weather was forecast light and so it turned out to be over the weekend with some better breezes on Sunday.  Four Killaloe boats travelled and enjoyed the event,  the sociables and renewed old aquaintances over the weekend.  With the light airs tides on Saturday were running from the pre- start side of the line and carried boats over on a number of occasions resulting in half the fleet being black flagged on Saturday including three KSC boats.  Sunday was much better with little tidal effect and better winds.  Jim Ryan & David Tanner from KSC were 2nd in Silver Fleet.  The Fireball AGM was held on Saturday evening. topics included preparations for the Fireball Worlds in 2010 in Sligo SC. mentioned also were the small numbers going to Fireball events from Killaloe SC, something the club needs to address.  A great weekend all in all.    results here....

September Series 2009.  The September Series commenced on Tuesday,  1st Sept.  Michael Campion KSC and John Bolger ULSSC are event organisers. This is a PY event for all classes.  The event will come to a close after 8 races.  Provisional Results to date can viewed here..

Regatta 09 report.  The first Club Annual Regatta since the 1980’s was a most enjoyable event held on Saturday 29^th August 2009.   Activities began with three races for Junior Sailors held in a brisk F3 to F4 westerly breeze.   Michael Campion,  the race officer got the first race away at 12:00.  There was plenty of action before the start of the first race to get a good starting position and get away to a good start. There was stiff compettition between

There were some breakages and retirements after this first race.  By the end of race two energy levels were low and crews struggled to stay up in the breeze but in the end the third race was shortened.  All races were keenly contested with all junior sailors showing much improved boat handling skills. On returning ashore competitors were greeted to the appetizing smells from the Bar-B Que.    Well done to all for great racing.

 Results:  Overall Winners:  Kevin OConnor& Evan Despard 2^nd place: Andrerw Tighe & Erika Despard  3^rd place: Sean ORourke & JJ ONeill

Best Beginners:  Conor & Kelly Gilmore

Best Effort:    Amy Beck & Aisling ODonnell

Youngest Crew: Luke & Mark Roberts

Prizes for the most spectacular capsize was won by Robbie & Hugh Bourke and also Amy Despard and Aileen OConnor.

Onshore: The Bar-B was fired up by Pat Culloo who kindly did the cooking. Team games of blind folded Jig Saw and Shepherd’s herding skills test were good fun.   The Lions team won the Jigsaw team event and the Tigers Team winning out on the Shepherd’s Skills event.   Frisbee Golf continued into the evening with Kelly Gilmore and Aisling ODonnell winning out here.

This was a most enjoyable day for all involved including sailors, organizing team and spectators.  The weather also did its part with a sunny afternoon. Thanks to all who helped out with the event.

 Next event:   Sept Series starting on Tuesday 1^st September.  Click here for details:         Report by:   Jim Ryan

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Ed Lowe finishes 5th in the National Fireball Championships.  This is a fantastic result for a Killaloe boat at the Nationals.  Well done to Ed and Will Moody on such a fine achievement especially on it being their first time together in the boat.  A full report will be available on the Fireball ireland Website.   http://www.fireball-international.com/ireland/

Mirrors are getting into racing: Mirror sailors at the club have been working on their sailing skills over the past few weeks since their sailing courses.  On Tuesday evening they had a go at sailing a triangular course.  The start line was some way up the windward leg.   A longish startline was set and soon we were into a start sequence. Some crews were quickly focused on making a good start others had some difficulty in getting away well.   Erica Despard & Ben Murphy showed a clean pair of heels to everyone when they powered away from the start to be first to the windward mark.  Geordie & Jane Stundon picked themselves up and with good boat speed caught up at the gybe mark and held the lead to the finish to win the first race in style.

Neil Colin with Mark Donegan on boat setup during the Fireball Coaching weekend

Jim Ryan & David Tanner approaching Windward Mark

 photos by Conor O'Nolan and Judy Colin Webwizards web design - more photos  

Killaloe SC boats rigup in the Dunmore East prior to launch in Sunday's Racing            photo curtesy of Richard Fox

Luke & Mark Roberts launch their Mirror

JJ ONeill & Sean ORourke discuss tactics..

Race 1;Winners: Geordie & Jane Stundon

 Results: Race 1: 1st  49798 Geordie & Jane Stundon; 2nd; 66742 Kevin OConnor & Evan Despard.  3rd; 55287 Conor Gilmore & Eoin Campion;  4th; Erica Despard & Ben Murphy   Race 2: 1st: 65780 Erica Despard & Ben Murphy, 2nd: 49798 Geordie & Jane Stundon, 3rd 66742 Kevin OConnor & Evan Despard.  4th 55287 Conor Gilmore & Eoin Campion.    

Excellent support work by Philip and the parents.      See you all again next week.....

June Series 2009:  The June Series 2009 runs as a warm up for events during the year.  It is a fun event where experienced and not so experienced crews sail two races per week on Tuesday evenings over the 4 weeks of June. The combined results with Portsmouth Handicap ratings and discards applied give the final results.  This year the Series was organised by ULSSC and KSC.  David Tanner was coordinating for KSC.   Event report and results and some pics soon....

UL Spring Challenge 2009   Light to moderate SE to S winds over the weekend were ideal for the regatta.  Entries were very small this year with only 6 boats two of which retired after Saturday sailing.  Its was a pleasant and sunny weekend to be on the Lake for all involved.  Winner for 2009 is Michael Campion and Eoin Enright in a Fireball.  This crew have been knocking on the door with success coming in 2009.  many thanks to all who assisted with the event.  (results)

Sept Series results    Fireball Cup results   

Munster Fireballs in LDYC, Dromineer

Light winds on Sunday meant that the Munster Fireball Champioships at LDYC consisted of the four races sailed on Saturday 20th September. Despite an 800 wind shift during race 3 PRO Liam Maloney and his team on the water ensured that there was minimal delay between races, fitting in four good races prior to the AGM and dinner on Saturday night. 25 Fireballs from various clubs were in attendance, including several from Killaloe Sailing club, just down the lake south of Dromineer. The overal event winner was Simon McGrotty of Skerries Sailing Club. Overall results available here      report curtesy of LDYC.

Gortmore Bell Results

Alex Voye in his International H boat did the business last Saturday in the 36 mile,  Gortmore Bell race run by Iniscealtra  SC in Mountshannon.  The 37 boat entry got away in light southerlies. Boats ahead in Class 2 in the early part of the race capitalised on stronger breezes which died as Class1 got underway.  This is a fine achievement for Alex in his first attempt in his recently aquired H boat.  Credit also to the all Fireball crew:  Alex Voye, Michael Campion, KSC and Michael Murphy, WHSC who got the best from the boat to bring her home a winner..  Congrats and well done from all in Killaloe Sailing Club. 

 see results here...

UL Spring Challenge 2008 report

After being blown out on the previous weekend the rescheduled UL Spring Challenge held at UL Activity Centre in Killaloe provided keenly fought racing in a one day event with a 15 boat entry.  Visiting boats from Cullaun SC, and Fireballers from Dublin clubs and Waterford Harbour SC livened it up for everybody including the race committee. The Entry included Fireballs, RS Visions, RS Feva, Fireflies, Enterprises.   The day started with blustery and variable winds with some squalls coming through which proved a real headache for the PRO David le Froy who persisted with the task and got the first race off and immediately after the start a 90 deg wind shift meant the first leg was a beam reach but we did hear shouts of enjoyment in being away and racing after a considerable delay in cold conditions.

Michael Campion & Eoin Enright  ~  Killaloe SC