Thirty people have been rescued from a tall ship before it sunk after it struck rocks this morning.

The major sea and air operation was launched after the Dutch training vessel, the Astrid, ran aground off the coast of Kinsale, Cork.

The RNLI and coastguard scrambled to the stricken boat where around 12 people were first taken off the ship while the remaining 18 were lifted to safety by the Courtmacsherry lifeboat.

The accident came as waters between Oyster Haven and Kinsale were particularly busy during a Gathering Yacht race.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish...insale-2084441

The vessel had visited Kinsale after travelling 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.Satellite view of Astrid's location

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

It was then converted into a traditional, luxury sailing vessel.

CJB