The gaff ketch Wyvern sank this morning while sailing in the Baltic as a Class B vessel in the Tall Ships Races 2013 from Aarhus to Helsinki. According to Sail Training International: She began taking on water earlier today at the centre of the southern tip of Öland and Hoburgen, Gotland’s southern tip. The crew of ten were all air-lifted and are safe ashore at Kalmar airport.
Wyvern was a 60′ yacht built by Colin Archer in 1897. After a long and varied career, the yacht was restored and given to the Stavanger Maritime Museum in Norway in 1984. She sailed in many national and international regattas and and has won both her own class and overall in regatta legs in The Tall Ships’ Races. She participated in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships’ Race six times.
Another sad loss to the maritime world … happily no lives were lost: a ‘boat’ can be replaced…
You may have heard by now that unfortunately a life was lost: An adult crew member from another vessel who was trying to save the Wyvern from sinking. When she did sink, he could not be found and the search has now been called off.