The Howth 17 is a type of keelboat. It is a 3-man single-design keelboat designed to race in the waters off Howth and Dublin Bay.

How long is a Howth 17?

The Howth Seventeen is just 22ft 6ins in hull length.

Why are Howth 17s so famous?

The boat is the oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world and it is still racing today to its original design exclusively at Howth Yacht club. It has important historical and heritage value keep alive by a vibrant class of members who race and cruise the boats.

How many Howth 17s are racing today?

Although 21 boats are in existence, a full fleet rarely sails buy turnouts for the annual championships are regularly in the high teens.

Who designed the Howth 17?

The plans of the Howth 17 were originally drawn by Walter Herbert Boyd in 1897 for Howth Sailing Club. The boat was launched in Ireland in 1898.

Who built the original Howth 17s?

They were originally built by John Hilditch at Carrickfergus, County Down. Initially, five boats were constructed by him and sailed the 90-mile passage to Howth in the spring of 1898. The latest Number 21 was built in France in 2017.

Why were the Howth 17s designed and built?

The Howth 17s were designed to combat local conditions in Howth that many of the keel-less boats of that era such as the 'Half-Rater' would have found difficult.

How many Howth 17s were built?

The original fleet of five, Rita, Leila, Silver Moon, Aura and Hera, was increased in 1900 with the addition of Pauline, Zaida and Anita. By 1913 the class had increased to fourteen boats. The extra nine were commissioned by Dublin Bay Sailing Club for racing from Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) - Echo, Sylvia, Mimosa, Deilginis, Rosemary, Gladys, Bobolink, Eileen and Nautilus. Gradually the boats found their way to Howth from various places, including the Solent and by the latter part of the 20th century they were all based there. The class, however, was reduced to 15 due to mishaps and storm damage for a few short years but in May 1988 Isobel and Erica were launched at Howth Yacht Club, the boats having been built in a shed at Howth Castle - the first of the class actually built in Howth.

What are Howth 17s constructed of?

The basic wooden Howth 17 specification was for a stem and keel of oak and elm, deadwood and frames of oak, planking of yellow pine above the waterline and red pine below, a shelf of pitch pine and a topstrake of teak, larch deck-beams and yellow pine planking and Baltic spruce spars with a keel of lead. Other than the inclusion of teak, the boats were designed to be built of materials which at that time were readily available. However today yellow pine and pitch pine are scarce, their properties of endurance and longevity much appreciated and very much in evidence on the original five boats.

How many races do the Howth 17s sail in any given year?

It is always a busy 60-race season of regular midweek evening and Saturday afternoon contests plus regattas and the Howth Autumn League

Name a famous Howth 17?

The 1907-built Deiliginis have recently made it four in a row for the national title that Deilginis has won at least six times in all.

What are some big recent events in the Howth 17 class?

In 2017, a new Howth 17 Orla, No 21, was built for Ian Malcolm. The construction of Orla began in September 2016 at Skol ar Mor, the boat-building school run by American Mike Newmeyer and his dedicated team of instructor-craftsmen at Mesquer in southern Brittany. In 2018, Storm Emma wrought extensive destruction through the seven Howth Seventeens stored in their much-damaged shed on Howth’s East Pier at the beginning of March 2018, it was feared that several of the boats – which since 1898 have been the very heart of Howth sailing – would be written off. But in the end only one – David O’Connell’s Anita built in 1900 by James Clancy of Dun Laoghaire – was assessed as needing a complete re-build. Anita was rebuilt by Paul Robert and his team at Les Ateliers de l’Enfer in Douarnenez in Brittany in 2019 and Brought home to Howth.

What is the sail area of a Howth 17?

The total sail area is 305 sq ft (28.3 m2)

Displaying items by tag: Kilmacsimon

25th August 2019

Myross and Killorglin Close Out Irish Coastal Rowing Championships With Wins

Senior Women's winners Killorglin celebrate, with silver medallists Kilmacsimon (left) and Galley Flash, bronze.

#Coastal Rowing: Myross won the senior men’s title for the second weekend in-a-row at the Irish Coastal Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre. The had also won at the ICRF All-Ireland. Killorglin won the senior women’s crown.

In excellent conditions, the contest for the Club of the Championships was close. The prize goes to the club with the most wins. Holders Kilmacsimon could have taken it with wins in the final two races but were denied and Whitegate, the hosts, were crowned champions.

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14th October 2018

Myross Quad and Donegal's Boomer Place Well at World Coastal Rowing Championships

#Rowing: Ireland crews reached multiple A Finals and had two fifth-place finishes at the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Sidney, Victoria in Canada.

The Myross men’s coxed quadruple of Kenny McCarthy, Vincent Browne, Andy O’Sullivan and James Lupton, with cox Ciara Deasy, finished fifth in their A Final. The race was won by Italy, who were well clear of second-placed Monaco, with France One taking bronze.

In the final of the men’s single, Patrick Boomer was also well placed behind the winner Eduardo Linares Ruiz. The Peruvian took the lead before half way and held on to dethrone Italy’s defending champion, Simone Martini, who took bronze. Lars Wichert of Germany was second.

Boomer, who was representing Loughros Point of Donegal, was fifth, well in touch with the medallists.

Ireland's women's crews also did well. Castletownbere's coxed quad of Emily Dulohery, Cliona O'Regan, Orla Gilsenan, Miriam Sheehan and cox Carmel Connolly finished sixth. Russia won from Spain and Monaco.

Diana Dymchenko of the Ukraine won the women’s single. Sionna Healy of Arklow was eighth and Laura O’Neill of Kilmacsimon 12^th.

World Coastal Rowing Championships, Sidney, Victoria, Canada (Selected Results; Irish interest)

Men

Quadruple, coxed: 1 Italy (CC Saturnia) 22 mins 14 secs, 2 Monaco, 3 France One; 5 Myross, Ireland (K McCarthy, V Browne, A O’Sullivan, J Lupton; cox: C Deasy) 23:46.9.

Single: 1 Peru (E Linares Ruiz) 26:30.2, 2 Germany Two, 3 Italy; 5 Ireland One, Loughros Point (P Boomer) 27:23.4.

Women

Quadruple, coxed: 1 Russia 25:18.0, 2 Spain One, 3 Monaco; 6 Castletownbere, Ireland (E Dulohery, C O’Regan, O Gilsenan, M Sheehan; cox: C Connolly) 27:56.

Single – 1 Ukraine (D Dymchenko) 28:56.7, 2 Netherlands, 3 France Two; 8 Ireland One (S Healy, Arklow) 31.38.2; 12 Ireland Three (L O’Neill, Kilmacsimon) 33:25.1.

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20th August 2018

Wonderful Day for Kilmacsimon at Irish Coastal Rowing Championships

Kilmacsimon celebrate at the National Rowing Centre

#CoastalRowing: Kilmacsimon emerged with an outstanding seven wins at the inaugural Irish Coastal Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre. Cork clubs were dominant at the event. Ring, with three wins, were the closest challengers to Kilmacsimon, which became the Club of the Championships. Kilmacsimon is based on the River Bandon in west Cork.

Irish Coastal Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork (Selected Results; winners of finals)

Saturday

Men

Open Sprint: Myross

Timber Yawl: Kilmacsimon

Open Classic: Myross

Women

Open Sprint: Castletownbere

Timber Yawl: Galley Flash

Open Classic: Castletownbere

Mixed

Masters: Passage West

Sunday

Men

Coastal Four – Senior: Galley Flash. Inter: Blackrock. Under-21; Kilmacsimon. Junior: Myross. Jun 18: Ring. Jun 16: Courtmacsherry A. Pre-Veteran: Blackrock A. Veteran: Whitegate. Masters: Kilmacsimon.

Women

Coastal Four – Senior: Galley Flash. Inter: Killurin. Under-21: Kilmacsimon and Killorglin (tie). Jun: Rushbrooke. Jun 18: Kilmacsimon A. Under-16: Portmagee A. Pre-Veteran: Ring. Veteran: Kilmacabea. Masters: Rushbrooke.

Mixed

Coastal Four – Senior: Kilmacsimon. Pre-Veteran: Ring. Veteran: Castletownbere A.

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20th August 2017

Galley Flash Win All Ireland Coastal Title

#CoastalRowing: Galley Flash won the senior men’s title at the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in Ballyshannon, Donegal. The West Cork crew led for virtually all the race from local rivals Kilmacsimon, with Courtmacsherry always in third.

Vartry won the intermediate title by two lengths.

Workmen’s from Kerry won a good final of the Senior Ladies competition. Galley Flash led early on, but Workmen’s had taken the lead by the turn and went on to forge a clearwater advantage, though Galley Flash finished well.

All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships, Ballyshannon, Donegal (Selected Results)

Men

Senior: 1 Galley Flash 11 min 16 sec, 2 Kilmacsimon 11:21, 3 Courtmacsherry 11:26. Intermediate: Vartry. Junior: Ring.

Women

Senior: 1 Workmen’s 7:34, 2 Galley Flash 7:38, 3 Kilmacabea 7:49. Inter: Worken’s A 7:42. Jun: Kilmacsimon.

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20th February 2011

Cork Crews Rise to the Top at Cork Head

Cork crews saw off rivals from far and near at the Cork rowing Head of the River at the Marina on Saturday. UCC’s men’s senior eight were the fastest men’s crew – by 1.3 seconds from De Maas of Rotterdam, a masters eight. The fastest women’s crew was Cork Boat Club’s junior 18 eight, adjudged just .8 of a second quicker than UCD’s women’s senior eight. The fastest men’s single sculler was John Keohane of Lee Valley and Karen Corcoran-O’Hare of Shandon was the fastest women’s single sculler.

Cork Head of the River, The Marina, Cork, Saturday

Overall: 1 UCC men’s senior eight 12 minutes 6.7 seconds, 2 De Maas, Rotterdam men’s masters eight 12:08.0, 3 UCC men’s novice eight 12:25.9, 4 UCD men’s novice eight 12:42.4, 5 Presentation College men’s junior eight 12:44.3, 6 Muckross intermediate eight 12:49.9.

Men, Eight – Senior: UCC 12:06.7. Intermediate: Muckross 12:49.9. Novice: UCC 12:25.9. Junior: Presentation 12:44.3. Junior 16: Cork 13:21.2. Masters: De Maas 12:08.0.

Fours – Senior: Cork/Garda 12:53.6. Intermediate: UCC 13:40.6. Novice: Cappoquin 13:43.9. Junior 18, coxed: Presentation 13:04.0

Pair – Junior 18: Presentation 14:58.7. Masters: De Maas 13:09.9. Coastal – Novice: Ahakista 17:28.7.

Sculling, Quadruple – Senior: Shannon 13:50.8. Novice: Shannon 15:07.4. Junior 18: Cork 13:05.3. Junior 16: Cork 13:15.2.

Double – Intermediate: Cork IT 13:41.6. Junior 18: Clonmel 13:53.9. Junior 16: St Michael’s 15:04.4. Coastal – Novice: Kilmacsimon 16:17.2.

Single – Senior: Lee Valley (J Keohane) 14:16.4. Intermediate: Lee (O’Connell) 14:53.4. Novice: Lee (O’Connell) 14:37.9. Junior 18: Workmen’s (Burns) 14:33.0. Junior 16: Shandon (Casey) 15:08.9. Masters: Skibbereen (Barry) 15:40.07. Coastal – Novice: Kilmacsimon 17:33.6

Women – Overall: 1 Cork junior eight 13:40.0, 2 UCD senior eight 13:40.8, 3 St Michael’s junior eight 13:54.1.

Eight – Senior: UCD 13:40.8. Novice: UCC 14:25.4. Junior 18: 1 Cork 13:40.0. Junior 16: Clonmel 16:21.0.

Four – Senior: Muckross 14:15.9. Intermediate: UCC 17:00.9. Novice: UCC 16:29.8. Masters: Skibbereen 22:34.9.

Pair – Junior 18: St Michael’s 15:00.2.

Sculling, Quadruple - Novice: Shannon 15:51.4. Junior 16: St Michael’s 15:16.5.

Double – Intermediate: UCC 16:15.1. Junior 18: Cork 14:43.9. Junior 16: Lee 15:42.3. Masters: Cork 15:38.3.

Single – Senior: Intermediate: Shandon (K Corcoran-O’Hare) 15:39.7. Junior 18: Lee (Kearney) 16:52.1. Junior 16: Lee (Hamel) 16:13.6. Masters: Cork (Crowley) 17:49.2.

Coastal: 1 Kilmacsimon men’s novice double scull 16:17.2, 2 Ahakista men’s novice quadruple coxed scull 17:28.7.

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