Strong winds and injuries marked the start of the return leg in Challenge Transat 2002 from Boston to Southampton.

But favourites BG Group, who won the first leg from Southampton to Boston, experienced two major setbacks when skipper John Burfitt took his team on a flier. He sailed a deep northerly course, hunting down an incremental wind advantage he could exploit to get ahead of leaders Vail Williams and Logica.

Instead, he found high seas that hampered his progress.

Just 20 miles adrift of the leader a few days ago, BG Group fell 125 miles behind and then saw a crew member, Laurence Marriott, take a fall in the cockpit.

"Loz is strapped into his bunk now on doctor's orders and doped up on pain killers," Burfitt reported to race headquarters.

"We were quite concerned about him - he's almost certainly damaged some ribs. He's keeping a cheerful exterior despite the obvious discomfort and frustration. I've got to keep the boat and crew safe and I've lost my right-hand man."

After the first mate was laid up, full-time command of the yacht and crew fell exclusively on the shoulders of the skipper.

Marriott's injury compounded an already serious competitive setback for BG Group. Conditions where the yacht is sailing are set to get rougher.

"Sea conditions up there are going to be very bad," said George Caras, of Commanders' Weather.

"We are talking about mostly following seas and they could be up to 30 feet."

Meanwhile, the three boats sailing south of the leaders, Spirit of Hong Kong, Team Spirit and BP Explorer - fourth, fifth and sixth respectively - were in sight of a break.

"Sea conditions down where they are will be much smoother," said Caras, "and they should have decent winds.

"So, we could see them gain a bit on the leaders as BG Group may fall even further back."

The two leaders, Vail Williams in first, and Logica nine miles behind, continued sailing a nearly mistake-free race and are expected to cross the finish line late on Sunday or Monday.