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TWO boats have been involved in a horror crash plunging a sailor overboard during a yacht race.

The Round the Island Race, held in the Isle of Wight, faced difficult conditions with wind speeds of 64mph before the terrifying incident.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: JamieRussell/IslandVisions/BNPS Weather input. Pictured: Man overboard! A person was seen floating with their lifejacket. Extreme conditions saw many sailors pull out of an annual yacht race on Saturday with some even capsizing and a crash. The Round the Island Race - a 50-mile circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight - normally attracts one of the largest fleets of any yacht race. But this year the competition faced some of the most severe conditions in years with gusts of over 50 knots recorded at The Needles, the most eastern point of the course. Race organisers cancelled eight classes before the race started. The conditions put off many from entering and many more retired early. After eight hours of racing just 61 boats had completed the course.
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A man (circled) has fallen overboard during a yachting competition
BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: JamieRussell/IslandVisions/BNPS Weather input. Pictured: A lifeboat patrolling the race in rough seas. Extreme conditions saw many sailors pull out of an annual yacht race on Saturday with some even capsizing and a crash. The Round the Island Race - a 50-mile circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight - normally attracts one of the largest fleets of any yacht race. But this year the competition faced some of the most severe conditions in years with gusts of over 50 knots recorded at The Needles, the most eastern point of the course. Race organisers cancelled eight classes before the race started. The conditions put off many from entering and many more retired early. After eight hours of racing just 61 boats had completed the course.
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The moment two yachts crash together
The RNLI raced to rescue the man
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The RNLI raced to rescue the manCredit: BNPS
Many races in the yacht competition were not able to finish on Saturday due to conditions
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Many races in the yacht competition were not able to finish on Saturday due to conditionsCredit: BNPS

Extreme conditions on Saturday led to many boaters not being able to finish the race and even saw a crash between two yachts.

And in horrifying scenes, one man was flung overboard and had to cling onto his life jacket.

It is understood the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was standing by and raced to the sailor's help.

His condition is not yet known.

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The event, organised by the Island Sailing Club, puts amateur sailors up against the very best involved in the sport.

Around 10,000 people take part every year.

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