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: marine infrastructure

25th January 2024

€12.7million Announced for Local Authority Marine Infrastructure

The Irish Marine Minister, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the allocation of €12.7m to fund 15 marine infrastructure projects.

These projects will address the impact of Brexit on Irish coastal communities and will be delivered by local authorities. Under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022-2023, these projects were previously put forward by the local authorities.

The Minister praised the Local Authorities for their commitment to delivering projects through the BALAMI Scheme. He stated that, by the end of 2023, the government had delivered €37.8m in funding to support the delivery of 148 capital projects across the Irish coast. These projects will provide immediate economic stimulus to address the impact of Brexit, as well as lasting infrastructure to underpin long-term resilience.

The BALAMI Scheme approved up to €55.3m for 164 marine infrastructure projects located in 13 coastal local authorities. The Seafood Taskforce recommended the Scheme to support local authorities to rejuvenate Ireland's coastal and marine infrastructure, specifically to address the economic consequences of Brexit arising from the implications to the Irish fishing industry.

Despite delivery challenges for some approved projects, including consenting, procurement, supply chain, and weather windows for works, the government has approved 2024 projects on the basis of their capacity to be delivered in 2024. The selection also took into account their ongoing relevance to addressing the impacts of Brexit on Ireland's fishing industry.

Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Projects 2022-2024

The Minister noted that the government has engaged with the European Commission on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding and has secured the maximum flexibility possible into early 2024. He considers it vital to progress these projects in the post-Brexit era and wants to see delivery optimized to align with BAR.

The Minister concluded by emphasizing the significant social and economic importance of seafood to Ireland, which continues to play a vital role in the sustainable economic viability of many coastal communities across the country. He added that these projects will help to provide diversification opportunities for those coastal communities that have been particularly affected by the consequences of Brexit.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is administering the Scheme, and each local authority is responsible for the governance and delivery of its own projects.

Published in Irish Harbours

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Brexit Investment in Public Marine Infrastructure Now Totals €55.3m

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, today announced the approval of the second tranche of the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023, bringing total funding for the Scheme to EUR55.3m for 164 projects around the Irish coast. The Minister is pictured at Port Oriel Co. Louth with (from left) Seamus Connolly, Clogherhead Fishermens Association, Senator Erin McGreehan and Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd. Photo: Fennell Photography

Today, Minister McConalogue approved funding for 54 new projects; provided additional funding for 19 previously approved projects which had requested additional funding in light of cost increases, and raised the rate of funding provided for all projects to 95%.

Additional funding for the Greencastle breakwater project of €4.6m was announced in September this year, with almost €32m funding announced in April 2022; the new funding announced today is over €18.9m.

Beeves Rock lighthouse on the Shannon Estuary. Clare County Council will install an 11-buoy Shannon Estuary Visitor Mooring Buoy system for €33,375 as part of the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023 Photo: Afloat

To optimise the opportunity presented by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to help the seafood sector adapt to the impacts of Brexit through modernised public marine facilities, the Minister decided to increase the funding rate offered in this Scheme to a maximum of 95% of the eligible projects. All projects approved under the Scheme will benefit from this rate; the remaining 5% must be provided by the local authority from its own resources.

Coming down - the 'Ice House' at the Coal Quay is being removed at Dun Laoghaire Harbour The 'Ice House' at the Coal Quay is being removed at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in County Dublin under the Brexit Scheme at €125,000 Photo: Afloat

Commenting on the increased scheme contribution, the Minister stated: “It is vital that this capital injection delivers benefits to our coastal rural communities, especially with the challenging economic environment. To best provide for project delivery, I considered it prudent to confer additional funding to projects that have been impacted by higher-than-expected construction costs and to increase the scheme contribution, thus reducing the local authority contribution.

The South Quay at Wicklow Harbour benefits from pontoon Installation at €52,000 Photo: Afloat

The Scheme, which provides funding to local authorities to revitalise Ireland’s public marine infrastructure, is proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Conferring the approval for the funding of the projects, the Minister commented: “This second call returned an equally impressive number of applications. I now ask the local authorities to prioritise delivery on all projects so that this important economic stimulus can be delivered. The BAR funding is only available until the end of 2023, and this is a unique opportunity to reinvigorate our public marine infrastructure.”

In County Galway, Roundstone harbour will benefit from the installation of access ladders and the repair/replacement of handrails at €55,000

The Scheme arose from a recommendation of the Seafood Taskforce, set up in March 2021 to look at the impacts specifically on the fishing sector and coastal communities. Post Brexit regeneration has been identified by the Seafood Taskforce as a key enabler for offsetting the implications of Brexit on the Irish fishing industry. This Scheme is designed to support economic sectors, businesses and local communities and to support job creation and protection by distributing Brexit Adjustment Reserve funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop Ireland’s publicly owned coastal and marine infrastructure to facilitate diversification of economic opportunities.

The Minister added that: “This funding will support local authorities to rejuvenate Ireland’s coastal and marine infrastructure specifically to address the economic consequences of Brexit arising from the implications to the Irish fishing industry. Again, I must acknowledge the co-operation and engagement between local authorities, coastal communities and political representatives to make this happen.”

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is administering the Scheme. Each local authority is responsible for governance and delivery of its own projects.

Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022

The above table is also downloadable below as a pdf file and provides details of the 164 capital projects across 13 Coastal Local Authorities approved for funding in 2022-2023

Published in Irish Harbours

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marine infrastructure

Seafood Firm Meets Ministers Over Expansion Plans

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0131/1224288598582.html

Marine Harvest, which presently employs 250 people in Ireland and 5,000 worldwide, hopes to produce between 10 and 12,000 tonnes of premium salmon for export from its fish farms in Donegal, Mayo, Cork and Kerry in 2012.

The company sees potential to double its production and employment in Ireland over the next 10 years and discussed with the ministers how the marine infrastructure can best accommodate this.

“I see enormous potential for the expansion of both finfish and shellfish aquaculture," said Minister Connick.

Minister for Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith and Minister of State Sean Connick have met one of the world’s biggest seafood companies to discuss the potential for expansion of the industry in Ireland, The Irish Times reports.

Marine Harvest, which presently employs 250 people in Ireland and 5,000 worldwide, hopes to produce 10-12,000 tonnes of premium salmon for export from its fish farms in Donegal, Mayo, Cork and Kerry in 2012.

The company sees potential to double its production and employment in Ireland over the next 10 years and discussed with the ministers how the marine infrastructure can best accommodate this.

“I see enormous potential for the expansion of both finfish and shellfish aquaculture," said Minister Connick.

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