Everyone rescued as yacht overturns in West Cork

Twenty one people have been rescued after their yacht capsized off the West Cork coast.

The vessel was taking part in the Fastnet Race when it got into difficulty at around 6.30pm this evening.

The alarm was raised when an automated emergency beacon aboard the US-registered yacht was activated on impact with the water.

The vessel is thought to have capsized quickly around 10km from Baltimore, before the crew could even send out a mayday.

The Irish Coastguard scrambled the Baltimore Lifeboat along with rescue helicopters from Waterford and Shannon and the Naval vessel, the LE Ciara.

When they arrived, they found 16 people on the yacht's upturned hull.

Five others were found in a life raft.

The Coastguard had originally believed 22 people to be aboard but that was later revised to 21.

All are being medically assessed, but aren't thought to have been seriously hurt.

What caused the yacht to capsize is not yet known.