Coast Guard Rescues Injured Sailors from Yacht

Bay City News Service-Two injured sailors who are part of an around-the-world race were transferred from their storm-damaged yacht Sunday to a U.S. Coast Guard cutter some 250 miles offshore and were en route to the Bay Area.

The Coast Guard successfully dropped off medical supplies to the yacht crew that got caught in stormy seas during a race from China to San Francisco on Saturday, but they needed more time to reach the injured sailors on the Geraldton Western Australia due to continued stormy weather.

The crew members, a 67-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman who were aboard the Geraldton, were being treated by medical personnel on the Coast Guard cutter Bertholf Sunday night. The rescue of the sailors follows two days of search-and-rescue operations. The Bertholf is based at Alameda's Coast Guard Island.

The Geraldton, a 68-foot yacht competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, was struck by a wave Saturday morning that swept away its steering mounting and wheel and some of its communications equipment, according to race officials.

Coast Guard officials had wanted to airlift the injured sailors, but they said there were too many hazards to be able to do so. Four of the 13 crew members, all British or Australian, have a range of injuries, including suspected cracked or broken ribs and possible pelvic and back injuries.

Nine of the 10 yachts in the race are docked at Jack London Square in Oakland. The Geraldton is expected to arrive there Monday. The race, which began last July in England, will finish July 22.