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Good Friday Agreement’s 25th Anniversary Coincides With Howth 17s’ Epic Centenary Sail Home from Carrickfergus Through Irish Sea

11th April 2023
Centenary Season. Twenty-five years ago in April 1998, Ian Malcolm’s Howth 17 Aura celebrates her Centenary by returning to her birthplace of Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough with its famous 12th Century Norman castle
Centenary Season. Twenty-five years ago in April 1998, Ian Malcolm’s Howth 17 Aura celebrates her Centenary by returning to her birthplace of Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough with its famous 12th Century Norman castle Credit: David Jones

The events in Ireland this week with President Joe Biden and others marking the 25th Anniversary of the signing of Good Friday Agreement in Belfast on 10th April 1998 are a reminder that, at exactly the same time just a few miles down Belfast Lough, a core trio of Howth 17s had arrived in their birthplace – the history-laden port of Carrickfergus – to mark the Centenary of the first five boats of the class being constructed by renowned local boatbuilder John Hilditch, who had made a speciality of series-producing One Design boats which really were one design.

These days, we’ve become accustomed to the historic Howth 17s of 1898-vintage – the world’s oldest keelboat class still sailing as originally designed – putting in admired appearances at classic boat festivals at home and abroad. But just twenty-five years ago, with the Class’s Centenary looming, they tended to be homebirds, though a couple had been transported to the famous Brest Festival in France in 1972, where they formed a special bond with Eric Tabarly and his Cork Harbour-built 1898-vintage 43ft gaff cutter Pen Duick, while some had made significant voyages, and one had even been used as a honeymoon cruise yacht.

Carrickfergus Harbour and Castle much as they were when the first Howth 17s were launched into it in April 1898, with the Hilditch Boatyard sheds right at centre of photoCarrickfergus Harbour and Castle much as they were when the first Howth 17s were launched into it in April 1898, with the Hilditch Boatyard sheds right at centre of photo

VOLATILE SITUATION IN 1998

Nevertheless when it was suggested early in 1998 that a representative trio of Howth 17s should be road-transported to Carrickfergus to mark the Centenary properly, there were those who were convinced that in addition to the very volatile political and social situation in the north, the old boats would in any case be shaken to bits on such a journey. But as the Massey brothers of the 1907-built Deilginis had a road-trucking business, they decided to take their own boat and Paddy and Rachel Cronin’s Gladys on a low loader, despite the fact that both boats had actually been built by James Kelly at Portrush on Ireland’s north coast. However, Ian Malcolm had the real McCoy, the 1898 Hilditch-built Aura, and he took her north on the class’s one and only road trailer.

Carrickfergus Harbour waterfront as seen from the Castle keep in the rare old times before it was obliterated by today’s “Marine Highway”. The Hilditch boatyard is in the background, while the long-gone Anchor Inn in the foreground made Carrickfergus Regatta one of the most convivial on Belfast Lough, with the Green between it and the Castle being used for impromptu rugby, cricket and football matches – sometimes all three at once - between the sailing clubs of County Antrim and County Down.Carrickfergus Harbour waterfront as seen from the Castle keep in the rare old times before it was obliterated by today’s “Marine Highway”. The Hilditch boatyard is in the background, while the long-gone Anchor Inn in the foreground made Carrickfergus Regatta one of the most convivial on Belfast Lough, with the Green between it and the Castle being used for impromptu rugby, cricket and football matches – sometimes all three at once - between the sailing clubs of County Antrim and County Down.

So the show was on the road. But twenty-five years ago the negotiations for the Good Friday Agreement were reaching a crucial stage in Belfast at exactly the same time, and peace was by no means a given. Yet the Howth 17 people were determined that their three-boat delegation – with many friends and supporters - should be in Carrickfergus precisely a hundred years to the day after the first five boats had undertaken their maiden voyage to their home port after launching from Hilditch’s yard in the heart of Carrickfergus’s old harbour right under the distinctive 12th Century Norman Castle.

Aura and Gladys (Paddy Cronin) bid farewell to Carrickfergus Castle before setting off on their Centenary Sail home to Howth.Aura and Gladys (Paddy Cronin) bid farewell to Carrickfergus Castle before setting off on their Centenary Sail home to Howth

RECEPTION IN MAYOR’s PARLOUR

Thus in 1998 their boats were being launched into Carrickfergus marina and getting the masts stepped even as the political negotiations at Stormont near Belfast entered their final most difficult stage. Yet although the sun shone, it was bitterly cold with a northeast wind and snow flurries. And while the Seventeeners and their supporters were warmly welcomed with a Civic Reception by the Mayor of Carrickfergus David Hilditch (a distant relative of the original boatbuilder) and hospitability received to lunch by the Fairy Class of 1902-vintage at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club across the lough at Cultra, any sailing had to be restricted to the relatively sheltered waters off Carrickfergus.

Deilginis (Massey syndicate) heading south off the County Down coast while conditions were still moderate. Photo: Damien CroninDeilginis (Massey syndicate) heading south off the County Down coast while conditions were still moderate. Photo: Damien Cronin

Small boats, big wide sea – Damien Cronin helming Gladys with Deilginis following, and 80 miles to sail through the freezing night to Howth. Photo: Paddy CroninSmall boats, big wide sea – Damien Cronin helming Gladys with Deilginis following, and 80 miles to sail through the freezing night to Howth. Photo: Paddy Cronin 

The boats having survived to such a great age, the impression given was that they wouldn’t be expected to replicate the achievement of the original flotilla of 1898 by sailing home the 89 open miles from Carrickfergus to Howth. After all, the conditions a hundred years earlier had at least been warmer though the west wind was brisk, but for 1998 the forecast was for a further freshening of the nor’easter, with the strong possibility of snow.

Yet after completing all their planned activities on Belfast Lough, suddenly on the Sunday afternoon, the three little boats simply sailed for home. Nick Massey and his nephew Ian were on Deilginis, Ian Malcolm and Davy Jones sailed the true Centenarian Aura, and Paddy Cronin and his son Damian swept off into the freezing evening in Gladys.

Aura, with Ian Malcolm and David Jones aboard, starting to experience more demanding conditions as they approach the South Rock Lightship. Taking in a reef offshore in a Howth 17 seldom produces the neat effect created in harbour. Photo: Damien CroninAura, with Ian Malcolm and David Jones aboard, starting to experience more demanding conditions as they approach the South Rock Lightship. Taking in a reef offshore in a Howth 17 seldom produces the neat effect created in harbour. Photo: Damien Cronin

The blustering fair wind made for a fast passage, but the temperatures froze in the dark. However, while there were some massive snow-and-wind-filled clouds about, they managed to avoid them. By sunrise next morning, they’d swept into Howth harbour, their crews almost completely frozen but still functioning enough to grab their moorings and get ashore to de-frost in Howth Yacht Club with a full Irish breakfast, while the word came through that back around Belfast Lough, the coastline was now covered in a mantle of snow.

Aura making knots while a snow-shower beyond tries to build itself into a mini-storm. Photo: Damien CroninAura making knots while a snow-shower beyond tries to build itself into a mini-storm. Photo: Damien Cronin

In the twenty-five years since, the Howth 17s have gone from strength to strength. In 1998, it was thought remarkable that they had achieved the Centenary at all. But now, at 125 years old, their busy annual programme continues to provide sixty races every season, their numbers are greater than ever with 20 boats in class and new boats building, and they regularly appear at major classic boat festivals, with the most recent pre-pandemic in 2017 being Morbihan Sailing Week in France in May, and the Classics Division for the Kingstown 200 Cup in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in July.

The crew returned from Carrickfergus starting to de-frost in the early morning sun at Howth YC on Monday April 13th 1998 are (left to right) Ian Malcolm, Ian Massey, Damien Cronin, Davy Jones, Nick Massey and Paddy Cronin.The crew returned from Carrickfergus starting to de-frost in the early morning sun at Howth YC on Monday April 13th 1998 are (left to right) Ian Malcolm, Ian Massey, Damien Cronin, Davy Jones, Nick Massey and Paddy Cronin.

Not even the damage sustained by seven boats on Howth’s East Pier during Storm Emma on Friday, 2nd March 2018 has daunted the Class’s remarkable spirit. The historic Long Shed in which they were stored may have had its roof stoved-in by huge breaking seas, but miraculously only two of the seven boats within were very seriously damaged. Thanks to the skills of multi-talented boat-builder Larry Archer, five were soon seaworthy again, while the severely-damaged Rosemary went into a major repair job which had her sailing again to such good effect that she was the Class’s “National Championship” in 2022, and the most-damaged boat of all, Anita of 1900-vintage, was successfully utilised for an international re-build project in France before returning home to join the fleet.

These wonderful old boats have a lot of sailing in them yet, and in addition to a busy home season in 2023, Class Captain David O’Shea will be leading at least a dozen Howth 17s to Baltimore, West Cork in the third weekend of June for an “intensive” special 125th Anniversary Series, as Baltimore proved ideal for Howth 17s racing when the class took part in the Glandore Classics with a fleet of 15 boats in 2003.

The Centenary Sailing Crews of 1998 re-united at Howth YC twenty years later in April 2018 were (left to right) Davy Jones, Ian Malcolm, Nick Massey, Ian Massey, Paddy Cronin and Damien Cronin. All are in line for the Class’s 125th Anniversary Celebration Special Regatta in Baltimore in June 2023.The Centenary Sailing Crews of 1998 re-united at Howth YC twenty years later in April 2018 were (left to right) Davy Jones, Ian Malcolm, Nick Massey, Ian Massey, Paddy Cronin and Damien Cronin. All are in line for the Class’s 125th Anniversary Celebration Special Regatta in Baltimore in June 2023.

WM Nixon

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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Howth 17 information

The oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world is still competing today to its original 1897 design exclusively at Howth Yacht club.

Howth 17 FAQs

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.

The Howth Seventeen is just 22ft 6ins in hull length.

The Howth 17 class is raced and maintained by the Association members preserving the unique heritage of the boats. Association Members maintain the vibrancy of the Class by racing and cruising together as a class and also encourage new participants to the Class in order to maintain succession. This philosophy is taken account of and explained when the boats are sold.

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.

Although 21 boats are in existence, a full fleet rarely sails buy turnouts for the annual championships are regularly in the high teens.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

It is always a busy 60-race season of regular midweek evening and Saturday afternoon contests plus regattas and the Howth Autumn League.

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.

The Howth 17 has a gaff rig.

The total sail area is 305 sq ft (28.3 m2).

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