Storm prevents sailors' rescue off Calif.

Rough seas Sunday kept the US Coast Guard from rescuing four injured sailors aboard a storm-battered racing yacht off California, authorities said. The Coast Guard had expected one of its ships to get close enough Sunday to launch a helicopter to assist the imperiled yacht, but 30-foot waves driven by 60-knot winds were preventing a rescue, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. "We're doing all we can but right now our hands are tied," Coast Guard Petty Officer Barry Bena told the newspaper. "We're optimistic we can rendezvous with them, but right now it's all on hold." The 67-foot Clipper Venture 6, nicknamed the Geraldton, was taking part in an around-the-world race when it was roughed up Saturday by a storm blowing through the area. Three British and one Australian on board had injuries that included broken ribs. The Chronicle said the skipper, Juan Coetzer, described his crew's harrowing battle with nature. "The sea was alive with rage," he told race managers. "We were making good speed ... then a monstrous foaming swell broke over our stern. The water had so much force in it that it pushed [a crew member] into the helm, snapping the pedestal clean off. We had no steering and crew were falling all over the boat." The yacht was limping toward the coast at the same time the Coast Guard cutter Bertholf was sailing west with a helicopter aboard. The chopper was to be used to lower a rescue swimmer to the sailboat and assess the injuries, which are considered to be serious, the Coast Guard said in a written statement. A long-range Coast Guard C-130 plane flew to the area Saturday night with a medical team from the California Air National Guard, but weather in the area was too rough to allow them to parachute to the boat. The yacht was about 400 miles west of San Francisco when it was struck by a large wave. The crew told a rescue center in Britain its steering mechanisms had been damaged and three crew members were hurt. The storm carried stiff winds and churned up heavy seas as it moved across much of California Saturday night. The Geraldton, one of 10 identical sailboats that left Southhampton, England, July 31 had departed from China about a month ago. All of the racers are headed to Oakland, Calif.,, where they are expected to say until April 14 before heading to Panama.