US Coastguards finally win the race to save injured British sailors

TWO British sailors who were injured when a large wave crashed onto their yacht during a round-the-world race have been rescued by the US coastguard.

Jane Hitchens, 50, from Kent, and 29-year-old Nik Brbora, who lives in London, sustained minor injuries after encountering rough seas about 400 miles off the California coast in the Pacific Ocean during the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race.

A rescue boat reached the battered yacht about 200 miles off the coast. The 70ft Geraldton Western Australia was hit by a huge wave on Saturday about 400 miles from a finish line in San Francisco Bay.

“We were making good speed, sailing with the third reef in the main, surfing at 15 to 20 knots,” said Juan Coetzer, skipper of the yacht. “Then, just before the sun came up, a monstrous foaming swell broke over our stern.”

The sea was so rough on Saturday that rescuers could not parachute down to the yacht and rescue the injured sailors, but were able to drop medical supplies..