A British woman has been badly injured and evacuated after her yacht was bit by a “monumental” wave off the coast of South Africa

British sailor Michelle Porter, who was competing in this year’s Clipper round-the-world race, has been evacuated to hospital after she was injured when a freak wave hit her yacht.
 
The 37-year-old suffered a suspected broken arm when the 70ft yacht, Derry-Londonderry-Doire, was rolled by hurricane force gusts, but she escaped with torn ligaments and severe bruising.
 
In a statement issued by the race organisers, Ms Porter, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, said: “It’s certainly a birthday I won’t be forgetting anytime soon and for the wrong reasons.
 
“I feel a bit numb, a bit sick, and also pretty devastated that I’ve had to leave the yacht. I sailed with it from London and I’m gutted that I’m not doing this leg.”

Describing the incident, Ms Porter said: “We’ve been hit by quite a lot of waves over the last few days but this one was monumental.

“I was tagged onto the high side by my safety line and just didn’t see the wave coming.

“The next thing I knew I was clinging onto the rails on the low side. Had it not been for my safety line I would have been straight overboard.”

Ms Porter is hoping to rejoin the yacht in Australia.

This year’s Clipper Race fleet, which set off from London in September, has so far completed nearly a quarter of the 40,000-mile course.

Related articles