Injured British yachties treated in California

Injured sailor Nik Brbora slowly makes his way to a waiting ambulance.

He and shipmate Jane Hitchens were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday during a round-the-world race.

The Australian yacht was in rough waters hundreds of miles off the coast of California when a towering wave smashed into their boat, injuring four crew members.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS RYAN HUMPHREY, SAYING:

"From when we launched to looking at their face when we were coming along their side, talking to Jane when she was on our boat trying to make her as comfortable as possible, the look of gratitude in her face was definitely rewarding."

Hitchens is thought to have broken ribs, while Brbora may have a sprained pelvis.

The two British sailors were taken to hospital where doctors will decide if they are fit to compete in the last leg of the Clipper Round the World Race that starts in Panama later this month.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JUSTIN TAYLOR, ASSISTANT RACE DIRECTOR-CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE SAYING:

"The crew learn to anticipate the waves and the sea action on the boat. It's just every once in a while that wave will come out of nowhere and has your name on it and it's going to slam you that's exactly what happened."

The other crew members are still on the yacht and will use back up steering and communications to dock in San Francisco Bay for repairs sometime on Tuesday.

Jessica Gray, Reuters