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)

Crew

18th January 2016

Crew wanted for 29er Worlds & Youth Worlds Campaign

After coming close to qualifying for the Youth Worlds in 2015, with only eight months in a 29er, Royal Cork youth sailor Harry Durcan is looking for a crew who wants to work towards competing at the front of the 29er fleet in European, World & Youth World Championships, with the ultimate goal being to medal at these events.

Durcan continues to train in the 29er with stand–in crews until he finds a permanent crew.

In a social media post this month, Durcan, a former top Optimist sailor, says his campaign comes complete with two competitive boats, a support Rib, training partners and a coach.

Published in 29er

Tagged under

31st October 2011

Howth RNLI Names New Treasurer at AGM

David Sargent was named as the new treasurer of Howth RNLI at the lifeboat branch's AGM and awards event recently, The Irish Times reports.

http://www.afloat.ie/resources/irish-ports/howth-harbour

http://afloat.ie/resources/organisations/rnli-ireland/

http://www.afloat.ie/safety/lifeboats/

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1031/1224306801849.html

Sargent succeeds Capt Peter McKenna, who served as treasurer for the last 16 years and was awarded for his service by Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter.

The meeting at Howth Yacht Club saw Rafter recognise the efforts of the lifeboat's crew and fundraising volunteers - such as the Howth Sea Angling Club, who raised more than €2,000 from collection boxes last year.

http://www.afloat.ie/sail/sailing-clubs/howth-yacht-club

http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/angling/

Rafter awarded the organisations highest award for volunteers, the Gold Medal of the Institution, to the late former chairman Alastair McMillan, who was a committee member for 44 years.

Meanwhile, the Long Service Badge for 20 years’ service was presented to crew member Ian Massey.

David Sargent was named as the new treasurer of Howth RNLI at the lifeboat branch's AGM and awards event recently, The Irish Times reports.

Sargent succeeds Capt Peter McKenna, who served as treasurer for the last 16 years and was awarded for his service by Howth RNLI chairman Russell Rafter.

The meeting at Howth Yacht Club saw Rafter recognise the efforts of the lifeboat's crew and fundraising volunteers - such as the Howth Sea Angling Club, who raised more than €2,000 from collection boxes last year.

Rafter awarded the organisations highest award for volunteers, the Gold Medal of the Institution, to the late former chairman Alastair McMillan, who was a committee member for 44 years.

Meanwhile, the Long Service Badge for 20 years’ service was presented to crew member Ian Massey.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

Tagged under

17th June 2011

Eagle Crew Get Taste for Porridge After Waterford Stop

The crew of the US Coast Guard clipper Eagle have taken home a taste for porridge oats following their visit to Waterford ahead of the Tall Ships Races.

http://www.afloat.ie/sail/tall-ships/

Irish Central reports that the 140-plus crew of the training vessel took on a consignment of Flahavan's Irish Oats for their summer voyage throughout Europe and back across the Atlantic to New York on 5 August.

John Noonan of Flahavan's said the porridge oats "should certainly help keep their energy levels up as they complete the rest of their voyage. As we know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, whether you're on land or sea."

Irish Central has more on the story HERE.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/American-tall-ships-crew-develop-love-for-Irish-oatmeal-123953949.html

The crew of the US Coast Guard clipper Eagle have taken home a taste for porridge oats following their visit to Waterford ahead of the Tall Ships Races.

Irish Central reports that the 140-plus crew of the training vessel took on a consignment of Flahavan's Irish Oats for their summer voyage throughout Europe and back across the Atlantic to New York on 5 August.

John Noonan of Flahavan's said the porridge oats "should certainly help keep their energy levels up as they complete the rest of their voyage. As we know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, whether you're on land or sea."

Irish Central has more on the story HERE.

Published in Tall Ships

Tagged under

3rd April 2011

New TV Documentary: 'Smugglers'

'Smugglers' is the first of a new two-part documentary narrated by Samuel West which is to start this Tuesday on UTV at 9pm.

The programme follows a customs cutter crew from the UK Border Agency as it stops a container ship suspected of carrying a large consignment of narcotics.

Also exposed is the work of organised crime gangs and the average holiday-maker as they try to beat UK border controls and smuggle drugs and tobacco into the country.

The documentary also reveals the case of a 62-year-old retired taxi driver from Birmingham caught with 5kg of cocaine concealed behind the engine of his car.

Published in Maritime TV

Tagged under

2nd March 2011

Dramatic Photos of Clifden Lifeboat Battling Surf

Spectacular photographs taken from the shore by Lifeboat Operations Manager John Brittain during Clifden RNLI's special surf training recently on Dunloughan beach show the type of conditions that volunteer lifeboat crew train in for the life-saving charity. The shots capture the inshore lifeboat crewmembers climbing a wave and exercising in some choppy conditions.

John organised the training in response to the increased popularity of the area with surfers. RNLI Divisional Assessor Trainer Helena Duggan travelled to the lifeboat station to put 18 volunteer lifeboat crew through their paces and train them in handling the lifeboat in surf and responding to potential callouts from leisure marine enthusiasts.

Training is a core part of volunteering with the RNLI and each crewmember in Clifden trains once a fortnight on the stations two inshore lifeboats.

Commenting on the exercise John said, "I took my camera down to photograph the exercise and was really pleased with the results. It is great to be able to show the public what our lifeboat volunteers go through to ensure they are fit and trained to go to sea. We had a fantastic turnout on the day and the lifeboat crew learned about boat handling in surf conditions. We are delighted so many people are visiting the area for leisure marine activities."

clifden_d_class_1

clifden_d_class_2

clifden_d_class_3

Photos by John Brittain/Clifden RNLI show Clifden volunteer lifeboat crew with RNLI Training assessor Helena Duggan during surf training on Dunloughan beach, Ballyconeely

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

Tagged under

9th November 2010

Delegates Debate IRC Rule Changes at Turkey Conference

The annual IRC Congress was held in Istanbul, Turkey over the weekend of 16 - 17 October. Delegates from 18 countries reported on IRC activity in 2010 and plans for 2011. The IRC Technical Committee reported that the number of IRC rated boats in 2010 had held up to the same level as 2009, an excellent result in the continuing difficult economic times. The news will be of interest to ICRA members.
Delegates considered 30 submissions for changes to IRC rules and processes. The most significant of these are:
- Rule 8.2.1 now requires that a boat holding a shorthanded certificate may not use her normal certificate for shorthanded races.
- New Rule 8.10 defines rated dimensions as maxima and minima and that a boat found during equipment inspection at an event to exceed any dimension is not in compliance with her certificate.
- Rule 21.8.1(c) is amended to limit the minimum size of headsail used by a boat rated for a single roller furling headsail.
- Rule 22.4 is amended by the deletion of old Rules 22.4.1, 22.4.3, 22.4.4 and 22.4.5. New Rule 22.4.2 now invokes Crew Number or alternatively maximum crew weight by default unless this is amended by a Notice of Race. Any event already including crew limitations in its Notice of Race will not need to do anything. However, any event which does not wish to enforce crew limitations will need to specifically say so in the Notice of Race. If a Notice of Race says nothing about crew, then IRC Crew Number or maximum weight will automatically apply. For further advice please go to the IRC website, www.ircrating.org.
Minutes of the IRC Congress and IRC Rules for 2011 will be posted on www.ircrating.org shortly.

Published in ICRA

Tagged under

26th April 2010

Life Made Plain Sailing For Yacht Crew

Douglas, ISLE OF MAN - Moore Stephens Isle of Man, leading providers of multi-sector wealth management services has today announced a comprehensive financial support service for Superyacht crew through one of its group companies, Moore Stephens Crew Benefits Limited.

Speaking about the service line, Clive Dixon, managing director said, "While this was the logical next step in the development of the product, we actually ended up with a brand new offering powered by the International FlexiPlan retirement savings scheme. We listened to our clients who asked us to refine our existing product and the end result is a highly flexible client-focused way of managing crew benefits. Our clients wanted to be empowered to make investment decisions on the level of retirement savings they have, which is where the International FlexiPlan works perfectly."

The comprehensive service which will incorporate a 24/7 helpline comes on the back of Moore Stephens' successful Superyacht registration, HR solutions and yacht owner services which had already expanded into yacht crew payroll. It includes:

· Retirement savings plans, flexible and adaptable to a crew member's unique lifestyle, available in all major currencies.

· Health insurance, including hazardous sport, piracy and kidnapping options, but always with Med-evac as standard.

· Accident cover for dismemberment, permanent incapacity and death, among other options.

· Flexible income protection and life insurance.

"Our clients can either leave their retirement savings to be managed by their chosen provider or manage their own retirement savings using the investment funds available in the International FlexiPlan through a secure web-based platform. The International FlexiPlan has been specifically tailored with seafarers in mind. No other product on the market has been dovetailed to their needs in such a way. Our goal is to become a one-stop financial shop for crew, it's as simple as that," continued Clive.

All crew become members of "Moore Stephens Crew Club" www.mscb.im with a dedicated website and membership card which includes the telephone number of their personal 24/7 helpline.

While the International FlexiPlan retirement savings scheme was designed by Moore Stephens Isle of Man to minimise fees and charges, including fund investment fees, so that the saver gets a low cost solution to their retirement savings need, other services such as banking and insurance were arranged through strategic alliances with international banks and specialist providers with an international perspective.

Bransom Bean, Director of Moore Stephens Crew Benefits Limited, who project managed the offering, said, "We sourced specialist underwriters to provide a truly comprehensive global coverage scheme including global air Med-evac, piracy and ransom and coverage in the USA." He explained the rationale by stating, "Our brief was to design an ultra low-cost, fully flexible, international insurance product with the unique lifestyle of a yacht crew member in mind. This is a perfect fit for us as well - what could be more international than Superyachts?"

Published in News Update

Tagged under