The talents and courage of Emma Richards have been given a stern test during the second leg of the Around Alone race - but the Hamble yachtswoman is holding on to her second place despite encountering one of the worst storms in her sailing career.

Earlier this week, she was lying 40 miles ahead of third-placed Thierry Dubois in Solidaires and battling with the tactical challenges posed by passing through the Canary Islands, a lack of sleep and a collision with a semi-submerged container, which had fallen off a ship.

"I had just sat down at the chart table when an almighty crash stopped the boat dead from 12kts of boatspeed. I knew it wasn't another vessel in the water as I had literally just arrived from deck," she said.

"I shot forward in the seat and was stopped by my pelvis which, although is very painful now, was probably the safest way to be stopped without falling or breaking anything!

"As soon as I caught my breath I jumped on deck to see just behind the boat a very, VERY large white object a couple of metres below the surface, I'm sure it was inanimate - perhaps a semi-submerged container from a ship which is not uncommon - and it was a definite crash as opposed to a dull thud!"

"I checked all the hull and stringers for any sign of damage or leak, thanked my lucky stars that it must have missed the rudders by centimetres and was left a little shaken, still trying to work out how to make this boat go faster," she added.

Following the storm in which the skippers recorded gusts of more than 70 knots and high seas, the wind had died to around 20, gusting 30s.

"I still have to hold on with one hand all the time and both when I can feel the boat launching, the landing is never very pretty!" Emma, pictured, said.

" I have not been out of my drysuit and harness since Thursday, except of course to use the loo, but even then you need to pick your moment in case you need to run on deck to ease something or do a major course alteration."