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2026 Fireball Worlds Legends Night – Calling all ex-Fireball sailors

by UK Fireball Association 12 May 11:47 BST 28 July 2026
Chips Howarth and Vyv Townend © Tom Gruitt

As all sailors know, good socials are just as important as the actual sailing for a successful sailing championship.

For the 2026 Fireball World Championships a full social programme is being put together, including a Fireball Legends night. Cannily arranged for Tuesday July 28th, the evening before the reserve day, the class is keen to get as many ex-Fireball sailors down to Torquay to have a drink and reminisce with old friends, something Fireball sailors, and to be honest most sailors, are pretty good at doing.

Fireball legends who have already indicated they will be attending include the voice of SailGP, Stevie Morrison (World Champion 2001), Stevie's dad Phil (World Champion 1981) with his World Championship crew Jon Turner, four time World Champion Chips Howarth and Andy Barker, the only person to win the UK Nationals as both crew and helm (crewing for Lawrie Smith with whom he also won the Worlds, and helming for Mark Simpson).

This is an open invitation to anyone who has sailed a Fireball and wants to catch up with old mates. If anyone wants further information, please email . Otherwise we'll just see you at the bar in Royal Torbay Yacht Club from 6pm on Tuesday 28th July.

About the 2026 Fireball Worlds

The event is being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club and is preceded by the UK Nationals. The Nationals run from Monday 20th to Friday 24th July (including inspection/measurement days) and the Worlds from Saturday 25th to Friday 31st July (including inspection/measurement days).

A big thank you to our valued sponsors:

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