Skipper recalls the final moments of stricken tall ship

The captain of the stricken tall ship Astrid fought back tears yesterday as he recalled the moment he knew his beloved ship was lost.

But Dutch skipper Pieter de Kam, 63, said he never feared for a moment about losing a crew member.

As the 95-year-old vessel was forced on to the rocks and began to sink around noon on Wednesday, just east of Kinsale harbour, Mr de Kam said: “I told my trainees this is not a problem for you — only the Astrid. I’m feeling that it’s sinking and that is not nice.”