Clipper yacht crew recovering in US hospital US coastguard rescues two injured crew members from the Geraldton Western Australia, which was competing in the Clipper round-the-world race. Photograph: Handout/Reuters Two round-the-world yacht race crew injured when a large wave crashed on to their vessel have arrived back on dry land. Three Britons and an Australian were hurt on board the Geraldton Western Australia when it was caught in rough seas about 400 miles off the California coast in the Pacific Ocean. The yacht is one of 10 UK-registered 68ft yachts competing in the Clipper round-the-world race, which takes place once every two years. The boat's doctor, Jane Hitchens, 50, from Kent, and 29-year-old Nik Brbora, who lives in London, were transferred by small boat to a US coastguard cutter, the Bertholf, which arrived in San Francisco late on Sunday night. Hitchens has four suspected broken ribs and is being treated with oxygen, and Brbora, a software engineer, has suspected pelvic strain. Both were said to be "in good spirits" and were transferred to Highland general hospital in Oakland, California, by ambulance after the coastguard cutter arrived in San Francisco Bay. Two other injured crew members - Max Wilson, 62, a farmer from Queensland, Australia, who also has suspected broken ribs, and Mark Burkes, 47, from Worcestershire, who suffered a back injury - were deemed well enough to remain on the yacht, which was due to dock later on Monday. The US coastguard had planned to winch the injured from the yacht but this proved too dangerous and they were transferred to the cutter by boat. The rest of the crew of 18 are said to be shaken but unhurt. In a statement on the race website, the yacht's skipper, Juan Coetzer, said it had been making good speed "then at our watch change, just before the sun came up, a monstrous foaming swell broke over our stern." A coastguard HC-130 plane dropped medical supplies to the vessel on Saturday. The Geraldton is using backup steering and communications systems to sail to Oakland. After repairs it is due to continue on the next leg of the race, race spokeswoman Isabel Hokken said, departing for Panama on14 April with the goal of reaching Britain on 22 July. The assistant director of the round-the-globe sailing contest, Justin Taylor, said it would be up to doctors to determine whether the two injured mariners were fit to return to the race later this month for the last leg of the competition.