Only a few day's ago the sailing vessel Astrid was safely anchored off Penzance before making her way later that evening to Cork on Ireland...
where she left earlier today bound for Kinsale...
luckily all hands were taken of safely by the Kinsale lifeboat after she ran aground under cliffs. Pictures show the vessels sails were all furled at the time of the accident in strong south westerly winds and a 4 metre swell....
Thirty people have been rescued after their tall ship hit rocks and sunk off the south coast of Ireland. The Astrid suffered engine failure near Kinsale Harbour and was blown onto the rocks by strong winds. A major emergency operation took place involving the RNLI and coastguard just after midday.
The Astrid was one of 50 vessels taking part in a flotilla-style five mile journey from Oysterhaven to Kinsale as part of Ireland's 2013 Gathering initiative -- a tourism bid to encourage the diaspora to return to their homeland on holiday.
This video shows the dramatic moments the Astrid hit the rocks, the subsequent rescue and interviews. Video by Nautical Channel.
