A HAMPSHIRE sailor was at the centre of a dramatic rescue operation when his superyacht was overcome by mountainous seas off Australia.

Southampton-based Will Oxley was among the crew saved from the 98ft super-yacht Skandia during the notorious Sydney Hobart race.

This picture shows the incredible rescue operation after Skandia's keel broke during the race - one of sailing's toughest challenges.

Just hours later the yacht capsized in ferocious seas.

It put a sudden end to the 16-strong crew's race and today an emergency salvage operation was under way.

It left British yacht Aera, skippered by Lymington's Jez Fanstone, in pole position to win the prestigious event, which is 630 miles across the Tasmin Sea.

More than 50 boats in the fleet of 123 have now dropped out of the 60th annual race since they set off on Boxing Day.

Skipper Grant Wharington, flanked by navigator Mr Oxley at a press conference in Hobart, Australia, said: "We were lucky to get out of this alive and sail another yacht race."

The drama began almost a day and a half into race, when Skandia's massive moving keel became jammed to starboard in gale-force southerly winds.

Despite attempts to motor to safety, the crew were forced to abandon the stricken vessel and boarded the liferafts.

A media helicopter filming the race flew overhead, spotted the crisis, and a police boat was despatched. The crew were eventually rescued near the eastern coast of Tasmania.

Just hours later the keel broke off - and the yacht capsized.

It's not the first time 39-year-old Will, from Woolston, Southampton, has faced terrifying conditions on the race he's sailed in four times.

In 1998 he took part in the most tragic Sydney Hobart Race on record, when the fleet was battered by storm-force winds of up to 80 knots and six sailors died.

Four years ago marine biologist Will also skippered the yacht Compaq NonStop in Southampton's BT Global Challenge.

The dad-of-one has more than 125,000 nautical miles under his belt and specialises in navigation.