Rescue for Vendée sailor Eliès

FRENCH sailor Yann Eliès has been rescued from his yacht where he was trapped after breaking his leg.

He was transferred to the Australian Navy ship HMAS Arunta roughly 1,100 miles south of Perth.

Eliès had been taking part in the Vendée Globe – a single-handed race to sail around the world – when he broke his femur after a large wave struck his yacht while he was changing a sail.

Fellow competitor Marc Guillemot changed course to join Eliès as he waited to be rescued.

Since the fleet left France on November 9, several racers have dropped out.

The recent leader Jean-Pierre Dick on Paprec-Virbac II has lost 600-miles and dropped to seventh place after being forced to repair his rudder.

British sailor Mike Golding also briefly led the race but was forced out after losing his mast.

French sailors Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia and Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environnement currently lead the race, separated by 30 miles.