1. Rita


Built in 1898 by John Hilditch of Carrickfergus
   
Year: Owner(s):
1898 R N Guinness
1914 H R Brown
1921 A W Mooney
1925 W Sinnott-Glenn
1929 A O'Reilly
1936 C B McConnell
1937 D H Douglas
1939 D H & S J Douglas
1941 W J Macken
1946 Fisher, Gray & Montgomery
1947 A M Montgomery
1959 N Browne
1960 S O'Friel
1965 R Wilson
1971 J Walsh, M & R D Thornes 
1973 R D Thornes
1978 F O'Leary
1986 P & D O'Reilly
1993 P O'Reilly
1999 John Curley & Marcus Lynch
   

Rita was the first Seventeen to be sailed into Howth Harbour in April 1898, a full day before the other four boats that had raced south from Carrickfergus, where they were built earlier that year. She was given her sail number (1) in 1900 when the fleet grew to eight boats.