What a Great Briton!!!

British yachtswoman Sam Davies has diverted from her solo round the world race to go to the rescue of one of her rivals.

Davies, 33, who is only one of two women in the Vendee Globe race, has put her race hopes on hold to go to the aid of French sailor Yann Elies, who fractured his thigh bone when a large wave hit his yacht 800 miles off the coast of South Australia.

Davies, who is competing in her yacht Roxy, has described her feelings of horror when Denis Horeau, the race director, told her of the Frenchman's ordeal on board his vessel The Generali

On Thursday, Davies was injured herself when she smashed her elbow on a winch transmission box after a sail-tie she was holding broke.

The pain caused her to pass out and she suffered severe bouts of nausea.

The Cambridge engineering graduate said: "I can't describe my feelings of horror when the reality of what Denis was saying to me over the telephone hit home. It is one of the phone calls that I hoped I would never receive – to find out a fellow competitor (and good friend) is injured and suffering.

"My bruised elbow suddenly became insignificant, although having so recently been hurt, alone on my boat I can understand what Yann must be going through only too well.

"I am torn between racing to Yann at a breakneck speed and not pushing too hard to risk damage to myself or Roxy. I know I must be sensible, and get some rest en route so that if I am needed I will be on form.

"I'm ready to do anything to help, as I'm sure any of the other skippers in this race would be.