Crew Airlifted from Clipper Yacht

Having recently completed the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race the Clipper fleet  started race 7 to Brisbane earlier today.

Within hours there was another  reminder of how injuries can happen as easily below decks as they can outside as  two crew members were air lifted off Mission Performance. 

Here's how the official web report read.

Two crew members on Mission Performance have been transferred to hospital  in Hobart this evening for medical evaluation following an accident below decks  in stable sailing conditions.

Katherine Camilleri (50) from Sydney, Australia, has suspected broken or  bruised ribs. Derek Furniss (44) from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, sustained a  head injury. Next of Kin have been informed.

The casualties were transferred by helicopter to the Royal Hobart  Hospital for assessment. Mission Performance is returning to Hobart with an  engine problem unrelated to the incident. Qingdao which stood by to assist if  required during the Medevac, is escorting Mission Performance back to port. 

Meanwhile the rest of the fleet, (minus Team Henri Lloyd who are completing  repairs to their starboard rudder following damage in the Sydney Hobart Race),  are heading north to Brisbane for a short stopover before heading on to  Singapore.

Here's the official race report following the start in Hobart.

Race 7 got underway at 1700 local time this afternoon (0600 UTC) off  Constitution Dock, Hobart for the 1075 nautical mile stage to Brisbane,  Queensland, to complete the Australian leg.

Old Pulteney was first over the start line two lengths ahead of OneDLL  with PSP Logistics overlapping in third closely followed by  Derry~Londonderry~Doire and GREAT Britain.

This is the third time the fleet has tackled the Tasman Sea and Bass  Strait in as many weeks, having just completed the 69th Rolex Sydney to Hobart.  

"Returning to the Tasman and Bass Straits is something the fleet and crew  should take in their stride, despite the strong winds currently being  experienced, although these should ease," explained Race Director Justin Taylor. 

"The race will retrace its steps somewhat from Race 5 from Albany when  the final stages into Sydney covered a similar route, but this time they will be  pushing on up to Brisbane and I would expect them to move further  offshore."

Following the Sydney-Hobart, which was also Race 6 in the 16-race series,  OneDLL is currently top of the overall leader board with 60 points.

Henri Lloyd is just one point behind OneDLL, but has its start delayed to  complete a repair to its starboard rudder. It will be awarded average points  (9.9) for Race 7, so OneDLL will need to finish at least third to maintain its  lead, or pick up additional gate or sprint points.

Winner of the Clipper 70 class in the Sydney Hobart was  Derry~Londonderry~Doire which is looking to build on its winning form. Skipper  Sean McCarter said: "It is important that we harness the momentum . The guys are  on a high after the result and we want to keep up the hard work. We didn't  change much for the Sydney Hobart and we will carry on with the same watch  system for this race too."

In third place overall is GREAT Britain with 50 points.

They are hoping to claw back further points following disqualification in  Race 5 after a protest. They picked up a healthy 11 points in Race 6 after  finishing the Sydney-Hobart second in the Clipper 70 class. Skipper Simon Talbot  said: "We need to go for a few Scoring Gates and Ocean Sprints to get some extra  points. There are teams just behind us which keeps us focused. We will keep  plugging away and fighting."

The fleet is expected to reach Brisbane around 9 January for a short  stopover before the start of Race 8 to Singapore which will start a day later  than originally scheduled on 12 January 2014.

Read more at http://www.yachtingworld.com/performance-world/news/535840/crew-airlifted-from-clipper-yacht#2Dr8QPBewDxIlcJ1.99

Original Story by www.yachtingworld.com via Google News

Image by Steven Gibson/Shuttersock.com