Australia's most prestigious yacht race, the Sydney to Hobart, has been severely disrupted by gales and high seas.

More than thirty of the one-hundred yachts have been forced to retire, many suffering structural damage.

At least two yachts are known to have capsized, but their crews are reported to be safe.

Several people are in hospital with serious injuries.

One man was swept overboard and spent an hour in the freezing water before being rescued by aircraft carrying night-vision equipment.

Correspondents say the storms are the worst to hit the nine-hundred-and-fifty kilometrerace since 1993, when over half the fleet was forced to retire.