The ship was participating in a sailing race with 37 youth aboard, when two of its metal masts broke. The Finnish Maritime Administration says that the masts broke at welding points, signalling metal fatigue.
Two Finnish coastguard helicopters rescued 37 of the 50 crew members onboard the Pogoria on Tuesday evening. The remaining 13 crew members stayed on the ship as they were in no apparent danger.
Most crew members are young novice sailors between the ages of 15 and 25. Once rescued, the youths were transported to overnight accommodation by bus.
The Pogoria, which was racing off the southern Finnish coast on Tuesday evening en route to St. Petersburg, sent out a distress signal after losing its masts and the use of its motors.
Winds of 10 m/s whipped waves in the waters off Hanko to heights of two meters on Tuesday evening.