Injured Brit Sailors Pulled Off Damaged Yacht - Sky News

The damaged yacht was one of 10 UK-registered boats taking part in the race and is now limping to port

6:02am UK, Monday April 02, 2012

Two British crew members seriously injured when a "monstrous" wave crashed into their yacht during a round-the-world race have been pulled to safety.

The US Coast Guard said the pair were being airlifted to a hospital in San Francisco, after rough weather thwarted earlier rescue attempts.

Jane Hitchens, 50, from Kent, and 29-year-old Nik Brbora, who lives in London, were transferred off the stricken vessel by small boat to a cutter.

Ms Hitchens, a doctor, has four suspected broken ribs, and Mr Brbora, a software engineer, has suspected pelvic strain. Both were said to be "in good spirits".

Two other sailors – another Briton and an Australian – suffered injuries as the Geraldton Western Australia's steering wheel and some communications equipment were swept away on Saturday a few hundred miles off the Californian coast.

Skipper Juan Coetzer said in a statement the yacht had been making good speed when, just before sunrise, "a monstrous foaming swell broke over our stern".

Two other injured crew members - Max Wilson, 62, a farmer from Queensland, Australia, who also has suspected broken ribs, and Mark Burkes, 47, from Worcestershire, who suffered a back injury - were deemed well enough to remain on the yacht until it reaches land.

The rest of the 18-strong crew on the boat are said to be uninjured but shaken.

The yacht is one of 10 UK-registered boats competing in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, which started in the UK. It was sailing to San Francisco Bay from China when the wave struck.

The yacht is expected to reach port at Oakland, California, on Monday by using an emergency steering mechanism. The other nine yachts have completed the latest leg of the race.