Fastnet: 40 years on
It's 40 years since 15 people died off the coast of Cornwall when a Force 10 storm hit sailors taking part in the 1979 Fastnet Race.
It remains one of the deadliest storms to hit a modern sailing competition - it sparked one of the country's largest peacetime rescue missions, with RNLI members based at Culdrose at the centre of the operation to save lives at sea.
This year's Fastnet Race was the biggest ever with over 3,000 people on 388 yachts. The American vessel Wizard came out on top after crossing the finish line first in Plymouth.
The safety regulations now are strict. Each yacht must carry two VHF radios and a backup storm sail.
The rules changed after the disastrous 1979 Fastnet race, when around 2,500 sailors from around the world set off on 303 yachts from Cowes.
The fleet sailed down the English Channel to the end of Cornwall before striking out towards Ireland's southernmost point, Fastnet.
Two days into the race, a violent, Force 10 storm ripped through the fleet. 21 people were killed including 15 Fastnet sailors.
Just 85 yachts finished the race, 5 sunk and 19 were abandoned.
In total, over 130 people were rescued in the aftermath of the storm.
Six Cornish lifeboats launched including Falmouth's.
Alan Barnes was part of the crew:
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