The Howth 17 class – founded 1898 and the world’s oldest continuously sailing one design keelboat class - have endured a severe body blow after last night’s uniquely severe Force 12 northeast gales wrecked the roof of the shed in the complex of buildings near the East Pier lighthouse, where the boats have had winter storage since the class’s foundation 120 years ago writes W M Nixon.
Seven of the boats from a class of twenty were stored in the shed, which was severely damaged at least once before, in a similar gale in 1978. But this time the damage to the building’s structure appears more devastating. Owing to sea and tide conditions, the area is unreachable until at least mid-afternoon, but a meeting in the clubhouse at 3.0pm today (Friday) will take decisions on the first steps to deal with the situation.
Two of the classic Howth 17s in summer weather. The storage sheds which were severely damaged last night are on the pier on the right
Waves continue to break over the pier at lunch time today
