Having recently completed the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race the Clipper fleet started race 7 to Brisbane earlier today. Within hours there was another reminder of how injuries can happen as easily below decks as they can outside as two crew members were air lifted off Mission performance.

Here’s how the official web report read.

Two crew members on Mission Performance have been transferred to hospital in Hobart this evening for medical evaluation following an accident below decks in stable sailing conditions.

Katherine Camilleri (50) from Sydney, Australia, has suspected broken or bruised ribs. Derek Furniss (44) from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, sustained a head injury. Next of Kin have been informed.

The casualties were transferred by helicopter to the Royal Hobart Hospital for assessment. Mission Performance is returning to Hobart with an engine problem unrelated to the incident. Qingdao which stood by to assist if required during the Medevac, is escorting Mission Performance back to port.

Meanwhile the rest of the fleet, (minus Team Henri Lloyd who are completing repairs to their starboard rudder following damage in the Sydney Hobart Race), are heading north to Brisbane for a short stopover before heading on to Singapore.

Here’s the official race report following the start in Hobart.

Race 7 got underway at 1700 local time this afternoon (0600 UTC) off Constitution Dock, Hobart for the 1075 nautical mile stage to Brisbane, Queensland, to complete the Australian leg.

Old Pulteney was first over the start line two lengths ahead of OneDLL with PSP Logistics overlapping in third closely followed by Derry~Londonderry~Doire and GREAT Britain.

This is the third time the fleet has tackled the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait in as many weeks, having just completed the 69th Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

“Returning to the Tasman and Bass Straits is something the fleet and crew should take in their stride, despite the strong winds currently being experienced, although these should ease,” explained Race Director Justin Taylor.

“The race will retrace its steps somewhat from Race 5 from Albany when the final stages into Sydney covered a similar route, but this time they will be pushing on up to Brisbane and I would expect them to move further offshore.”

Following the Sydney-Hobart, which was also Race 6 in the 16-race series, OneDLL is currently top of the overall leader board with 60 points.

Henri Lloyd is just one point behind OneDLL, but has its start delayed to complete a repair to its starboard rudder. It will be awarded average points (9.9) for Race 7, so OneDLL will need to finish at least third to maintain its lead, or pick up additional gate or sprint points.

Winner of the Clipper 70 class in the Sydney Hobart was Derry~Londonderry~Doire which is looking to build on its winning form. Skipper Sean McCarter said: “It is important that we harness the momentum . The guys are on a high after the result and we want to keep up the hard work. We didn’t change much for the Sydney Hobart and we will carry on with the same watch system for this race too.”

In third place overall is GREAT Britain with 50 points.

They are hoping to claw back further points following disqualification in Race 5 after a protest. They picked up a healthy 11 points in Race 6 after finishing the Sydney-Hobart second in the Clipper 70 class. Skipper Simon Talbot said: “We need to go for a few Scoring Gates and Ocean Sprints to get some extra points. There are teams just behind us which keeps us focused. We will keep plugging away and fighting.”

The fleet is expected to reach Brisbane around 9 January for a short stopover before the start of Race 8 to Singapore which will start a day later than originally scheduled on 12 January 2014.