The frequently misquoted ‘if you build it, he will come’ is often used to inspire and motivate people to follow their instincts in respect of unthinkable events and dreams, but it seemed like destiny for the oldest one-design racing keelboat class in the world, this week. Because after months of fickle and light winds and then a forecast of the return to normal Irish weather, most sailors should baulk at the thought of relocating their prize assets to distant shores, not least in the direction of the oncoming wind. Not so for the Howth 17s, who proved with resilience this week that a spirited and convivial bunch can make anything happen when it comes to planning a sailing event.
The organising team, led by Class Captain David O’Shea, managed this week to blend 12 teams and a plethora of supporters with a brilliantly designed schedule in West Cork for a sailing rally that seems to keep on giving.
Following this week’s three days of sailing in Ireland’s eminent cruising grounds, including obligatory stopovers at Baltimore, Sherkin Island, Schull and Crookhaven, the 125-year-old keelboat class chose Wednesday as the day to take their 17-foot waterline open keelboats around the iconic Fastnet Rock, and it couldn’t have been a better decision.
The morning promised an opening window in the gloomy skies, albeit with the continued very fresh Atlantic winds, and so it was to be. Less than half a dozen of Howth’s legendary class has ever sailed around the 119-year-old lighthouse (built six years after the first Howth 17s). But a lucky few people on boats, including the Cape Clear Ferry, were at the ‘Rock’ this Wednesday afternoon to witness 12 of the famous wooden keelboats rounding it to port after setting out from Crookhaven and then gybe towards the welcome party at the north harbour in Cape Clear.
A steady 23-25 knot north-easterly pressed the boats from Crookhaven to the Fastnet, and the relatively youthful ‘twins’ (Isobel and Erica - 1988) led the fleet around and got to the famous lighthouse first and made the passage in 69 minutes, averaging 6 knots - quite a feat for the normally unhurried classics.
But the boats thrived in the conditions, as did the wide-eyed crews and lucky spectators who will all be left with an unforgettable memory, not least aided by the hundreds of photographs, videos and torrent of social media posts that followed even before the boats had docked in the serene surroundings at North Harbour on Cape Clear.
Aided by the warm hospitality at Cape Clear (including a BBQ and drinks reception sponsored by Cape Clear Distillery), the 100-plus sailors and visitors enjoyed a relaxing afternoon before half of the fleet sailed back to Baltimore and the other half wait to return on Thursday.
Most of the sailors will rest their boats before the week concludes with racing in Baltimore harbour on Friday.