Challenge Business reports that Team Stelmar has diverted her course on Leg 2 of the Global Challenge to take an ill Crew Volunteer – 35-year-old Karen Smith from Oxford – to Puerto Williams, in Chile, just north of Cape Horn.

Karen’s family has been informed of the situation and is in communication with Race HQ. Although it’s still unclear about the extent of the illness, race headquarter say it is not life threatening. It was however, decided to take action before the yacht rounded Cape Horn and raced into the Southern Ocean, where an evacuation would prove increasingly difficult.

The rest of the crew aboard Team Stelmar are all safe and well, as are the other 11 yacht teams racing in the Global Challenge.

Team Stelmar, skippered by Clive Cosby, diverted her course at 15.41 (GMT). Following the evacuation they will need to rejoin the race as soon as possible so they can remain in contact with the rest of the race fleet. Current estimates show that they will be back and racing in less than 24 hours.