Yacht skipper breaks leg at sea

Piers Dudin, 31, suffered an open fracture after falling on the deck of the yacht on the 10th day of the round-the-world race stage from China to San Francisco, the organisers said.

Falmouth Coastguard gave the crew medical advice and Mr Dudin's leg was put in a splint.

Spirit of Australia, which has an A&E doctor on board, is currently shadowing the Yorkshire Forward-sponsored vessel towards Japan and a Japanese rescue boat with another doctor on board has set off towards Hull & Humber.

A spokeswoman for organisers Clipper Ventures said: "The incident is now in the hands of the Japanese Coastguard who are co-ordinating the medical evacuation. The skipper's next of kin have been informed and Piers is reported to be in good spirits."

In January, the 16-strong crew of the Irish entry Cork – including Sarah Bell, 43, from Ripon and Keith Hale, 50, from West Yorkshire – had to take to life-rafts after their yacht was holed in the Java Sea and had to be abandoned.