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)

Stella Maris Seafarers' Club

18th March 2013

Lecture: Shackleton’s Endurance Expeditions: 1914-17

#Lecture – A talk will be given on Shackleton's Endurance Expeditions: 1914-17 next Thursday (21 March) at 8pm in the Stella Maris Club, Beresford Place, Dublin city centre.

All are welcome to the lecture, where there is an entrance fee (recommended donation €5) per person

The Stella Maris Club is located close to the Irish Life (ILAC) Mall complex car park, the Customs House and Busaras. It is convenient to the Luas (Red Line: Busaras stop) and the DART (Connolly and Tara Street stations).

The Maritime Institute runs a maritime museum, the National Maritime Museum of Ireland located in Dun Laoghaire. Co. Dublin. For further details visit: www.mariner.ie

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19th February 2013

Lecture: Smuggling in the Eighteenth Century

#LectureSmugglers – Following Joe Varley's lecture held last week in the Poolbeg Y&BC Marina, Dublin, there's another chance to hear his lecture "Smuggling in the 18th Century".

The lecture is to take place this Thursday (21 February) at 20.00hrs at Stella Maris Seafarers Club, Beresford Place, in the city-centre.

The illustrated talk is hosted by the Maritime Institute of Ireland and is part of the winter/spring lecture programme.

Varley will demonstrate why the 18th century is regarded as the golden age of smuggling. This contention will be examined from mainly the viewpoint of the smuggler.

Examples of Irish and British smuggling activity will be given, including a detailed example of wool smuggling from Roundstone in Connemara in the 1730's.

The Stella Maris is located close to the Irish Life Mall car park (ILAC), the Customs House and Busaras. It is convenient to the Luas (Red Line: Busaras stop) and DART (either Connolly or Tara Street stations).

The Maritime Institute has a maritime museum, the National Maritime Museum of Ireland located in Dun Laoghaire. Co. Dublin. For further details on lectures, museum and more click HERE.

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8th March 2012

Lecture: The East India Company in Kinsale

#LECTURE - This month's lecture organised by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) is about 'The East India Company in Kinsale', presented by Paddy O'Sullivan.

The lecture will be held next Thursday (15th March) starting at 8pm and as usual takes place in the Stella Maris Seafarers Club on Beresford Place, close to Busaras and behind the Customs House.

O'Sullivan is an engineer, diver, author, and lecturer has uncovered a vast amount of information about the activities of the East India Company in Munster, regarding ship-building, trading, iron smelting, and cannon casting.

All are welcome to attend the evening where a bar and refreshments are available. A voluntary contribution is at the door. The organisers would be pleased for anyone to kindly forward details about the lecture programme, held monthly (third Thursday) at the city-centre venue.

Public transport: The nearest DART stations are Connolly Station and at Tara Street in addition to the LUAS (Red) line stop at Busáras. Car parking is located in the Irish Life Mall (ILAC) on Lower Abbey Street. For information of the lecture programme call 086 150 3766 and by visiting www.mariner.ie/lectures-spring-2012

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12th February 2012

Lecture: Building Dun Laoghaire Harbour

#LECTURE – This month's lecture organised by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) is about 'Building Dun Laoghaire Harbour' and is to be presented by Colin Scudds.

The lecture next Thursday (16th February) starts at 8pm and as usual takes place in the Stella Maris Seafarers Club on Beresford Place, close to Busaras and behind the Customs House.

All are welcome to attend the evening where a bar and refreshments are available. A voluntary contribution is at the door. The organisers would be pleased for anyone to kindly forward details about the lecture programme, held monthly (third Thursday) at the city-centre venue.

Public transport: The nearest DART stations are Connolly Station and at Tara Street in addition to the LUAS (Red) line stop at Busáras. Car parking is located in the Irish Life Mall (ILAC) on Lower Abbey Street.

For further information and of the lecture programme, contact 086 150 3766 and visit www.mariner.ie/lectures

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22nd March 2011

Lecture: 'The Kowloon Bridge & Her Sisters'

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) hosts a Spring lecture series in Dublin city-centre. The next lecture is 'The Kowloon Bridge & Her Sisters' by Paddy Barry and is on this Thursday, 24 March starting at 8pm in the Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place.

The 89,438 tonnes dry-bulk carrier was left to founder at Staggs' Rocks (photo) off the scenic west Cork-coastline in 1986 which resulted in the pollution of those waters. Built in the 1970's by Swan Hunter, Haverton Hill, she measuered 294.13 x 44.19 x 25.01 metres and is the believed to be one of the largest wrecks in Europe. Her sisters were the Furness Bridge (photo) and Derbyshire.

The Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place, is located beside Busaras and faces opposite the rear of the Customs House. Nearby is the Irish Life Center (ILAC) which is convenient for car-parking and buses, the 'Red' Luas (Busaras stop) and DART stops at Connolly /Tara St. stations. All are welcome, bar and refreshments and a voluntary contribution is appreciated.

For further information about lectures and updates on the M.I.I's maritime museum located in the Mariners Church, Dun Laoghaire log on to www.mariner.ie. The museum which is due to reopen this year are looking for volunteers to help, for further details click here.

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30th January 2011

Lecture: “The Newfoundland Voyage”

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) hosts a Winter /Spring lecture series. The next lecture of the is 'The Newfoundland Voyage' by Paddy Barry

The lecture is on 17 February and starts at 8pm and is to be held in the Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place. The club is located beside Busaras and faces opposite the rear of the Customs House. Nearby is the Irish Life Center (ILAC) which is convenient for car-parking and buses, the 'Red' Luas (Busaras stop) and DART stops at Connolly /Tara St. stations.

All are welcome, bar and refreshments and a voluntary contribution is appreciated. Further lectures will be held throughout the winter, mostly on the third Thursday of each month and in the Stella Maris. Note that the March lecture is due to be held on the 'fourth' Thursday of that month.

For further information about lectures and updates on the M.I.I's maritime museum in Dun Laoghaire, log on to www.mariner.ie

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5th November 2010

Lecture: Liffey Ships and Shipbuilding

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) hosts a Winter lecture series. The next lecture of the season is next Thursday (18 November) and is entitled 'Liffey Ships and Shipbuilding' by Pat Sweeney.

The lecture starts at 8pm and is held in the Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place and is located beside Busaras and faces opposite the rear of the Customs House. The club is also close to the Irish Life Center (ILAC) which is convenient for car-parking and buses, the 'Red' Luas (Busaras stop) and DART at Connolly /Tara St. stations.

All are Welcome, bar and refreshments and a voluntary contribution is appreciated. Further lectures will be held throughout the winter, mostly on the third Thursday of each month and in the Stella Maris. For further information, Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) website www.mariner.ie

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17th October 2010

Lecture: Ferries of Cork

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) hosts a Winter lecture series. The second lecture of the season is next Thursday (21st October) and is entitled 'Ferries of Cork' by Jack Phelan.

The lecture starts at 8pm and is held in the Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place and is located beside Busaras and faces opposite the rear of the Customs House. The club is also close to the Irish Life Center (ILAC) which is convenient for car-parking and buses, the 'Red' Luas (Busaras stop) and DART at Connolly /Tara St. stations.

All are Welcome, bar and refreshments and a voluntary contribution is appreciated. Further lectures will be held throughout the winter, mostly on the third Thursday of each month and in the Stella Maris. For further information, Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) website www.mariner.ie

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