Canadian students 'safe' after boat capsizes off Brazil

4:40 PM Fri 19 Feb 2010 GMT

'Square sails at work' West Island College Class Afloat

All 63 students and crew aboard a sailing ship that operates as a floating classroom for a Nova Scotia school are safe after a night in lifeboats off the coast of Brazil.

'Everybody is safe,' said a spokesman for the Brazilian Navy on Friday morning. Asked if anyone was sick or injured, he said, 'Everybody is fine.'

The S.V. Concordia, a three-masted sailing ship, sank to the bottom of the Atlantic in 'hard winds' and swelling waves, he said. 'It has gone to the deep.'

The 48 students, eight teachers and eight crew were due in Rio de Janeiro Friday afternoon, he said.

They abandoned ship for lifeboats equipped with blankets and food at 5 p.m. Thursday, Rio time (2 p.m. Toronto time). A Brazilian Navy helicopter spotted them three hours later and dropped medical supplies. They were rescued at dawn, he said...

Read the full story at The Star www.thestar.com/news/world/article/768065--canadian-students-safe-after-boat-capsizes-off-brazil?bn=1