Diamonds, precious gems, and Fireballs. They’re all rare and desirable items. So… just how CAN you get a FIREBALL? Well, here are five (and a half) options.

Option 1: CLASSIC ($). Get an older (pre-1990s) Fireball. They’re readily-available on Kijiji and similar buy/sell sites. The boat may need some refurbishing but that’s fun, right? If well-rigged, these classics can be competitive in light and medium winds. Some championship regattas have a special award for top classic boat.

Option 2: RARE GEM ($$). Find a second-hand modern Fireball, meaning one built since the mid-1990s. These boats have fast design features like a wider bow, flatter rocker, and efficient rigging. Some from Europe and Australia have found their way to our shores. Others are North American amateur-built boats. Some of these boats change hands each year, often from older to younger sailors. Talk to your provincial or regional Fireball rep as they know where the boats are and what might be for sale.

Option 3: RORO ($$$). Find a second-hand modern Fireball on a trailer in UK, then buy it and have the seller deliver it to a vehicle RORO (roll-on-roll-off) port, such as Southampton. Then receive it at the Canadian RORO port in Halifax, or one of the US RORO ports, and trailer it home. Used modern Fireballs are more common and cheaper in UK, but you’ll have to pay for the RORO shipment. ‘Option 3a’ could be to get together with others and bring over a container-full of up to 10 used British boats.

Option 4: NEW ($$$$) Buy yourself a new boat! At the 2024 Fireball Worlds, Dave Hall, owner of Weathermark Fireballs, told me he can deliver new Fireballs to North America. Say what? Yes! He’ll piggyback it into a container with other boats, such as RS Aeros, being shipped from UK to North America. He has good relations with the other companies, and has shipped a Fireball to West Coast Sailing in Portland this way, and will do it again to a North American port. For those with the financial means you could have a championship boat delivered to your door! The other commercial builder in UK is Winder, whose boats are sold through the P&B Chandlery.

Option 5: BUILD ($$) Build a Fireball! Plans are available from your Fireball association. This requires skill and time. Before embarking upon such a journey, you should talk to one of the Canada/USA amateur builders, to learn about necessary tweaks to achieve modern-hull characteristics such as wider bow and flatter rocker.  

So… go get a Fireball and come sail with us!