Howth 17s take centre stage at Dublin Bay OGA 50th and Port Riverfest

by ISA on 25 May 2013 The Howth 17s – broadly regarded as the world's oldest one-design keelboat classes still racing as originally designed – will play centre stage of a three-day sailing regatta in Dublin Bay.

Adding backdrop splendor along the city quays will be five Class A and B Tall Ships, as part of the Dublin Bay OGA 50th and Dublin Port Riverfest which will see classic craft competing for the inaugural RMS Leinster Trophy and Asgard Trophy, and the Howth 17s competing in the River Liffey Race between the East Link and Samuel Beckett Bridges.






Schedule:

Saturday 1st June

Leinster Trophy
Time: 11am

Inaugural race following the course towards the final resting place of the Royal Mailboat RMS Leinster which was torpeoded and sunk on October 10, 1918, while on passage from Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) to Holyhead, just five miles east of the Kish Lighthouse in Dublin Bay.

Sunday 2nd June

Howth 17s Liffey Race and Old Gaffer Association (OGA) fleet Parade of Sail
Time: 1pm Liffey Race (East Link-Sam Beckett) 3pm: Parade of Sail

The Howth 17s were designed in 1897 by Howth lawyer and founding Commodore of Howth YC, Herbert Boyd. The first five boats were built by John Hilditch, Carrickfergus. Two years later another three boats were built in Dún Laoghaire and five more in Portrush in 1906. During the next six years, four more boats were built, bringing the fleet to 17.

Monday 3rd June

Asgard Trophy
Time: 1pm

Participants in this unique race in Dublin Bay will be competing for the trophy crafted from original and new timbers used in the construction and restoration of the famous Howth gun-runner, Asgard. The splendidly restored vessel is now on view in Collins Barracks, National Museum of Ireland.

For more information see Dublin River Fest