Sail away: Storm takes toll

THE captain of a German sail training ship battered by a ferocious storm praised his rookie crew last night after their vessel limped into Cork harbour.

The two-masted tall-ship Roald Amundsen suffered extensive damage when it was lashed by a fierce storm off the south coast while en route from Lisbon to Cobh.

Force 12 winds and mountainous seas tossed the 50-metre vessel and its 41-strong crew, including 15 trainees, around like a cork.