On Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:34:27 +0100, "Brendan"
wrote:




The Astrid tall ship, which struck rocks off the Cork Coast, has sank.

A major emergency operation got under way after the 42-metre Dutch training
vessel hit rocks and began taking on water.

Thirty people on board the tall ship were rescued.

The RNLI and coastguard responded to the situation at Oysterhaven, near
Kinsale, after midday.

Two search and rescue helicopters were dispatched to the scene while
lifeboats from Kinsale, Crosshaven, Courtmacsherry and Ballycotton were also
involved in the rescue.

There were strong winds in the area at the time.

The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat said it rescued 18 crew members.

The other 12 crew members were picked up separately by the Spirit of
Oysterhaven yacht and brought to Kinsale Pier.

A medical team from Cork University Hospital is on the way to the scene to
assess them, but there are no reports of injuries.

The Irish Coast Guard said the vessel is now breaking up and beginning to
sink.

The LÉ Emer is on its way to the scene and a number of long-range rigid
inflatable craft with divers have been despatched from their base in
Haulbowline.

The waters between Oysterhaven and Kinsale are particularly busy today as
the Gathering yacht race, which left Dublin last Saturday, departed
Oysterhaven for Kinsale earlier today.

The RNLI said it was still uncertain why the Astrid got into difficulties.

Irish Coast Guard spokesman Declan Geoghegan paid tribute to the RNLI
lifeboats and other rescue services that operated in poor conditions.

He said: "The operation was quite difficult, not alone because the area was
busy with traffic, but also there was a four-metre swell and a blowing
southwesterly force four to five.

"So it was a delicate operation to get all the casualties off the stricken
vessel and I'd like to commend all those involved."

The vessel had visited Kinsale on a journey from Southampton to Cherbourg in
France.

The Astrid was built in 1918 as a lugger and up to about 1975 she carried
cargo on the Baltic Sea.

After a period under the Lebanese flag, which ended in a fire, she came into
British hands in 1984.

She was completely overhauled and got her impressive rigging for Atlantic
crossings as a training vessel.

The Astrid was then converted into a traditional, luxury sailing vessel.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0724/464...l-ship-astrid/
Thanks for the post. I had an email about it from Cris J. Brady who
founded this New group. I wonder if she can be brought up and saved.
I am happy that all on board were saved.