Aussie boat in Pacific Ocean drama

As the yachts competing in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race continue to arrive thick and fast in Oakland, California, the Pacific Ocean has dealt a devastating blow to Geraldton Western Australia.

A particularly deep and nasty low pressure system passing across their route, approximately 400nm from the finish line in San Francisco Bay, whipped up the ocean and a huge wave crashed over the back of the boat, wiping out their steering column and injuring four crew members.

The US Coast Guard has dispatched a vessel with a deck helipad to rendezvous with Geraldton Western Australia. They plan to transfer an on-board paramedic to the yacht in order to assess the injuries before deciding whether to airlift them to the Coast Guard vessel and then to shore for medical treatment. Earlier a C-130 aircraft dropped additional medical supplies to the yacht, including oxygen for one of the crew.

Mark Burkes, 47, who was on the helm at the time of the incident, sustained a back injury but is not believed to be as badly hurt as originally thought and has been taken off the casualty list. Jane Hitchens, 50, a doctor, has suspected broken ribs and is being treated with oxygen. Nik Brbora, 29, a software engineer who lives in London, has a suspected pelvic strain, and Max Wilson, 62, a farmer from Queensland, also has suspected broken ribs. All of the crewmembers’ families have been informed.

Describing the moment the wave hit the yacht, Juan Coetzer, the South African skipper of Geraldton Western Australia explained: "We were racing along in 40-60kt gusts. The sea was alive with rage. We were making good speed, sailing with the third reef in the main, surfing at 15-20kts. Then at our watch change, just before the sun came up, a monstrous foaming swell broke over our stern. Mark Burkes was on the helm at the time. The water had so much force in it that it pushed Mark into the helm, snapping the pedestal clean off. We had no steering and crew were falling all over the boat.

"Quickly we got the emergency steering in place. Then the third reef blew, so the storm jib went up and we pulled down the remains of our main sail, tidied up the boat and the treated the wounded. In the afternoon a US Coast Guard plane flew by and dropped us some extra supplies."

Geraldton Western Australia is continuing to make good progress towards San Francisco Bay and is now approximately 300 miles from port.

While the rescue mission continues in the Pacific Ocean, in Oakland celebrations are underway for the teams who have been arriving throughout the day at the end of their mammoth 6,000-mile race across the world’s largest ocean.

Singapore scored their best result so far in their Clipper 11-12 campaign, finishing second behind Gold Coast Australia.

Full positions are updated every three hours and can be found at www.clipperroundtheworld.com.