Sailing: Krakatoa II returns to Napier after co-skipper concussed in fall

Krakatoa II before yesterday's start of the final leg from Napier to Auckland. Photo / Bob Sheldrake

Krakatoa II, one of the yachts in the Round New Zealand Two Handed Race, had to return to Napier shortly after yesterday's start of the final leg after co-skipper Scott Wilson had a fall.

Napier Sailing Club commodore Paul Redman confirmed Aucklander Wilson was concussed in the fall. Fellow co-skipper Logan Fraser, of Auckland, monitored Wilson for a short time and decided to return.

Redman said Krakatoa II was met by the Coastguard rescue boat with a doctor on board. However, conditions were too rough to transfer Wilson, a 35-year-old civil engineer, to the Coastguard boat and this was done once both boats reached more sheltered waters.

Wilson was transferred to an ambulance once the Coastguard boat berthed and taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital for further observation. He was discharged last night.

"Scott had a good sleep and because the pair are able to continue the race they left on this morning's high tide around 9am," Redman said.

"Because Krakatoa II draws 3 metres it can only leave Napier a couple of hours either side of high tide. It was able to motor out to the position where they were when they returned from yesterday ... about 12 miles out," Redman explained.

One of seven boats in the race, Krakatoa II, was seventh after the third leg from Stewart Island to Napier. Fraser replaced fellow Aucklander Matthew Flynn for the Stewart Island to Napier leg as Flynn, a maritime lawyer, had commitments onshore.

Redman said the other six yachts were making good progress up the east coast of the North Island and he expected the leaders to arrive in Auckland on Wednesday. Hawke's Bay-raised brothers Josh and Sam Tucker are on opposing crews in the race.

Josh is racing the second-placed Motorboat II with fellow Aucklander Damon Jolliffe and Sam is racing the third-placed Gale Force with another Aucklander, Ken Ormandy.