Yachts damaged in Clipper crash

Skipper Piers Dudin describes the collision. Footage courtesy of Clipper Ventures.

A Hull-based yacht is being inspected to see if it can continue in a round-the-world race after it was involved in a collision.

The Hull and Humber clipper was holed in a collision with the Cork boat at the start of the fourth leg at Cape Town, South Africa. No one was injured.

The boats are being assessed to see if they can cross the Indian Ocean to western Australia.

Ten yachts are taking part in the voyage across the world's major oceans.

Man overboard

Race chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: "This is a closely-contested race and this kind of thing happens in fiercely competitive racing.

"For the two damaged boats, repairs will be effected as speedily as possible so they can catch up."

About 400 amateur sailors are competing in the race

The yachts set off on the 35,000-mile (56,000km) race from Hull in September and are due to finish there in July 2010.

Earlier this month a Hull and Humber crewman had to be pulled from the waters of the South Atlantic after a wave swept him overboard.

Arthur Bowers was rescued by his crew mates after 17 minutes in the water.

The Cork team won race three, arriving in Cape Town on 12 November. The Hull and Humber came in third the next day.