Dalts suffers injury

The round the world race veteran and skipper of Amer Sports Too has broken some ribs

On crossing the finish line this morning in fifth place, Amer Sports One skipper Grant Dalton was taken off the boat and delivered immediately to hospital here in Sydney with at least one broken rib and severe bruising.

Yesterday as the boat was contending a gale in Bass Strait, Dalts was down below when the yacht fell off a wave. "I was in the galley area and I was suddenly launched into space," the Kiwi skipper recounted. "I was in the galley area and I was suddenly launched into space. I broke the stove and the fitting that held it to the bulkhead and slammed into the side of the boat. Roger suspects a borken rib and maybe some internal damage. it is very painful to breath when I move."

Following the gastric problems of Keith Kilpatrick during this leg, navigator Roger Nilson, a qualified doctor, was forced to open up the medicine chest for the second time this leg. He confined Dalts to his bunk while he administered pain killers. "Grant is in severe pain and has massive bruising. He cannot move without severe distress."

Dalts' suffering can have been made no better during the intense fight Amer Sport One had in trying to fend off an attack from Knut Frostad's djuice on the way north to Sydney harbour. We hope Dalts was firmly strapped into his bunk when the boat experienced a full on broach (see photo gallery).

Grant Dalton is manhandled off Amer Sports One.