Groupama is left with no steerage after a collision, and heads straight for the sea wall - See the pictures

There was plenty of drama on day two of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week yesterday. In race 11 (the fourth inshore race), approaching the windward mark, Yann Guichard’s Groupe Edmond de Rothschild hit Franck Cammas’ Groupama 40 wiping out both rudders, leaving Groupama with no steerage whatsoever.

Groupama 40 were heading straight for the shore at speed and for safety the crew leapt into the water to avoid the impact of hitting the sea wall – deciding they would prefer getting wet than being thrown forward on the boat and potentially injuring themselves.