HAMPSHIRE yachtswoman Sam Davies has been diverted by Vendée Globe race organisers to help a stricken fellow competitor.

The 33-year-old from Hamble is currently racing to the aid of French sailor Yann Elies who fractured his thigh bone after a large wave hit his yacht in the 24,000-mile round the world race.

Race organisers have asked Davies and French sailor Marc Guillemot to assist Elies by giving him psychological support.

Elies is said to be in serious pain following the incident 800 miles off the coast of south Australia.

Davies, a Cambridge engineering graduate, said: ''I am ready for anything in my bid to assist Yann. He's my number one objective now.

''I will stay there as long as it takes the emergency services to arrive and ensure he's not on his own.''

An Australian navy ship, the HMAS Arunta, is also sailing towards Elies' 60ft yacht Generali.

About 300,000 people waved off the 30 yachts which started the Vendee Globe from Les Sables d'Olonne in France in November.

The Vendee Globe is a non-stop event, covering an average of 27,000 miles.

Unlike the Velux Oceans Race - which breaks the event up into three legs - the Vendee Globe is a non-stop race across some very inhospitable stretches of ocean.

More than a third of the boats that entered the 2004/05 race were forced to retire, and there were fatalities in the 1992/93 and 1996/97 events.