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)

Lifejacket

14th October 2010

Man Rescued after Fall from Boat in Ballyshannon

The use of the kill chord and a lifejacket on a boat in Donegal this week meant a man who went over board was able to be rescued quickly by Bundoran Lifeboat

The RNLI was alerted to a person in the water off Creevy Pier in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

The casualty had been thrown from his boat when the steering wheel broke.

He was spotted by two local fishermen who raised the alarm with the Coastguard.

On arrival the local fishermen had retrieved the man from the water. The Lifeboat crew took the casualty onboard and landed him at Creevy where they administered first aid to him.

He was then taken to Sligo General Hospital by ambulance. The rescue helicopter 118 was also on scene and the rescue was coordinated by Malin Head Coastguard.

Speaking after the rescue, Colm Hamrogue, Press Officer for Bundoran Lifeboat commented; "The gentleman was very lucky to be spotted by the local fishermen who raised the alarm. He was wearing his life jacket and had an emergency kill switch on the engine of his boat which went a long way in saving his life.

"He is expected to make a full recovery and I would like to commend the gentleman who was rescued for following sea safety advice by wearing a life jacket and having the necessary emergency kill switch. I would also like to praise the local fishermen for their vital role in this rescue."

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

Tagged under

Majority of Lifejackets Fail Lifeboat Test

Over 90% of lifejackets tested at Ireland's two biggest sailing centres failed simple checks carried out by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) last week writes Irish Times Sailing Columnist David O'Brien.

From 91 jackets tested in Cork and Dublin, 83 failed a free inspection.

The annual Lifejacket check service carried out by the institute was only taken up by 40 sailors from an estimated 1,000 competing crews at Cork week. 35 failed the test.

In Dun Laoghaire, last Saturday the RNLI offered the service again prior to Dublin Bay racing, where the total fleet is over 300 boats, the country's biggest sailing centre. 51 from a possible 2500 lifejackets were checked. Only three were deemed ok.

There were several different reasons for the failures including rusty or out of date inflation capsules but the bulk were rejected because jackets were not fitted with crotch straps. "It is the RNLI opinion these lifejackets may not work to their full potential because they may not keep the wearer's airway above water", says the RNLI's Kevin Rahill.

It's an important point so it is a wonder how lifejackets can be sold without them. What is not explained though is why so few sailors took up the free check or why nearly half the lifejackets presented had out of date capsules?

There is little doubt there has been an increased use of lifejackets in recent years but as last weeks survey shows it's equally important to know the lifejacket you are wearing actually works if you end up in the water.

RNLI Lifejacket Checks

Crosshaven:

LJs Checked 40
Ok 5
No Crotch Strap 18
OOD Capsule 22
OOD Hammar 1
Mk 3 Head 1
Rusty Cyl 2
Slack or Cyl out 4
Fired 3
Condemned (evidence of severe damage to fabric, mechanism etc) 1

Dun Laoghaire:

LJs Checked 51
Ok 3
No Crotch Strap 30
OOD Capsule 21
OOD Hammar 9
Mk 3 Head 1
Rusty Cyl 4
Slack or Cyl out 2
Fired 1
Condemned (evidence of severe damage to fabric, mechanism etc) 5

Since this article first appeared in the Irish Times on Friday, July 27 plans are afoot to test Lifejackets again in Dun Laoghaire in August or September.

We want your view on our forum thread HERE!

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

Tagged under

Cork Week Sailors in Dramatic Rescue

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Sennen Cove and St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, were launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Sunday 18 July) following reports that a yachtswoman had fallen overboard 50 miles north west of Land’s End. Just before the lifeboats arrive on scene, the extremely fortunate sailor was found by another yacht and airlifted to hospital.

The racing yacht Buccaneer was returning from Cork Week Regatta in Ireland when the woman went overboard in fresh south westerly winds and a moderate sea. Another yacht, Jaguar Logic, relayed a message to Falmouth coastguards and the two lifeboats were launched, along with the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.

The RNLI crews on Sennen Cove Tamar class all weather lifeboat and the St Mary’s Severn class all weather lifeboat headed for the scene at top speed. But just 12 or so miles from the scene, news came that the woman, who had been in the water for two hours, had been found alive and was being winched onboard the helicopter. She was then flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro, Cornwall.

The Sennen Cove lifeboat crew onboard City of London III, arrived home at 5am in the morning after an 80 mile round trip, while the crew onboard the St Mary’s relief lifeboat Beth Sells, were back in the islands at around the same time.

Terry George, RNLI Coxswain at Sennen Cove, says the woman was extremely fortunate:

‘The yachtswoman was very lucky to survive several hours in the water and in the pitch dark. Fortunately there were other yachts in the area that responded immediately and search and rescue assets were launched very quickly too. It happened a long way out but this is why the RNLI position fast response all weather lifeboats like our Tamar, at key places around the coast.’

A competitor returning to England from Cork Week was rescued after going overboard 50 miles off Land's End. Prue Nash, a yacht broker from Cowes, spent two hours in the water wihout a lifejacket and was lucky to survive the ordeal that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Sennen Cove and St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, were launched in the early hours of Sunday morning following reports that the yachtswoman had fallen overboard 50 miles north west of Land’s End. Just before the lifeboats arrive on scene, the extremely fortunate sailor was found by another yacht and airlifted to hospital.

Nash was wearing a life jacket and harness when she went over the edge, but had to take them off after they became trapped and were pinning her underwater.

The racing yacht Buccaneer was returning from Cork Week Regatta in Ireland when the woman went overboard in fresh south westerly winds and a moderate sea. Another yacht, Jaguar Logic, relayed a message to Falmouth coastguards and the two lifeboats were launched, along with the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.

The RNLI crews on Sennen Cove Tamar class all weather lifeboat and the St Mary’s Severn class all weather lifeboat headed for the scene at top speed. But just 12 or so miles from the scene, news came that the woman, who had been in the water for two hours, had been found alive and was being winched onboard the helicopter. She was then flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro, Cornwall.

The Sennen Cove lifeboat crew onboard City of London III, arrived home at 5am in the morning after an 80 mile round trip, while the crew onboard the St Mary’s relief lifeboat Beth Sells, were back in the islands at around the same time.

Terry George, RNLI Coxswain at Sennen Cove, says the woman was extremely fortunate:
‘The yachtswoman was very lucky to survive several hours in the water and in the pitch dark. Fortunately there were other yachts in the area that responded immediately and search and rescue assets were launched very quickly too. It happened a long way out but this is why the RNLI position fast response all weather lifeboats like our Tamar, at key places around the coast.’