Chippendale Boats Fireball

BoatsChippendale Boats Fireball

See her sail

The Chippendale Boats Fireball, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.35 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 77 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 77 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 3 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 3

CoastalBluewater

At 3.19 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.19

LightHeavy

33 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 33

EasygoingPowered-up

64.2 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 64.2

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

Lighter than ~78% of boats her size on file
Draws more than ~78% of boats her size on file
Narrower than ~94% of boats her size on file

Compared with 327 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Chippendale Boats Fireball, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Chippendale Boats Fireball is a 4.9-meter fractional sloop, centerboard dinghy designed by Peter Milne in 1962, known for its scow-like hull and high-performance one-design racing. Originally designed for amateur plywood construction, the 77 kg dinghy features a trapeze and is sailed by a two-person crew. Experienced sailors credit extensive small-boat experience in Fireballs for developing essential boat-handling skills and wind awareness, which they later applied to long-term ocean voyaging.6:48

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions

Weights

Rig & sail area

Rig

Fractional Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

64.2

Displacement / length

32.6

Comfort ratio

2.6

Capsize screening

3.19

Hull speed

4.9 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

209

Hull

Hull type

Centerboard Dinghy

Construction

Wood or FG, single chine

Production

Years built

First built 1962

Units built

15000

Designer

Peter Milne

Builder

Chippendale Boats

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing

Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24 from SEILmagasinet

International 144.27 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA high-performance development racing dinghy that has served as a testing ground for innovations like the trapeze since 1928

Huff of Arklow - Uffa Fox-designed yacht featuring a fin and skeg, stepped sheerline0:30 from Classic Yacht TV

Beneteau First 144.30 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA Samuel Manuard-designed performance dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited, responsive sailing

Everything You Need to Know - Beneteau - Episode 107 - Lady K Sailing2:27 from Lady K Sailing

Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)4.23 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailors

Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit11:48 from SEILmagasinet

Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors

Jørgen Stang Heffermehl – World Sailing3:38 from SEILmagasinet

LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing

From Kayak King to National Team Manager: Eirik Verås Larsen on Peiling på Seiling11:16 from SEILmagasinet

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Fairey Marine FireflyThe 1948 Olympic single-handed class, this Uffa Fox design was the first sailboat ever produced by Fairey Marine Speedball 14A W. Shad Turner-designed fractional sloop, this lightweight 14-foot centerboard dinghy is built for high-performance sailing Bullet (Milne)Awarded the 1975 Prince Philip Designers Prize, this lightweight centerboard dinghy was built for smaller sailors Chippendale Boats OspreyAn Ian Proctor-designed fractional sloop that outperformed the Flying Dutchman during the 1952 Olympic selection trials Chippendale Boats KestrelAn Ian Proctor-designed fractional sloop built for fiberglass, offering a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio

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The fleet has more to say

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