WINDS of up to 130 knots have battered competitors in the Clipper Round the World Race.

Violent gusts have hit the 12 yachts as they cross the Southern Ocean between Cape Town in South Africa and Albany in West Australia.

PSP Logistics, Old Pulteney and Team Garmin were among those caught up in wind gusts of up to 130 knots.

No injuries or damage were reported during the storm.

Team Garmin skipper Ben Bowley, who lives in Winchester, said: “The crew have shared in an epic, once-in-a-lifetime experience and this forms a new kind of bond between them, one that is hard to explain to those who were not here.

“The last 24 hours will remain firmly etched in their memory banks for many years to come. Thank goodness it only lasted less than a day.”

Chris Hollis, from PSP Logistics, said: “The winds lasted about 20 minutes and then... nothing. The wind backed to the north-west and just dropped to 20 knots, and left us bobbing around in the very lumpy, confused sea.”

It is the second time the fleet has been hit by violent storms since leaving South Africa on the fourth leg of the 40,000-mile race.

One man has been left with a deep gash in his leg and another with a dislocated shoulder as the fleet ran into high winds a week ago.

Mission Performance, carrying Hampshire’s William Ferguson, Sigi Goolden and Peter Wilcock, was forced to suspend racing and divert to Port Elizabeth in South Africa after crew member David Griffin punctured his calf on a cleat.

Skipper Matt Mitchell made the call so the injured sailor, who had a hole right through his leg between the bone and muscle, could be evacuated for treatment.

The crews are expected to arrive in Albany in the next week, before setting off for Sydney on Australia’s east coast.

Those taking part from Hampshire include former Southampton City College principal Lindsey Noble, who is on board the yacht Switzerland.

The other Hampshire sailors taking part include Charlie Pickering, 58, of Totton; Kate Hepworth, 40, Dave Richards, 63, and Charles Slater, 39, all of Southampton; John Menetrier, 60, of Gosport and Diana Nicholson, 56, from Southampton.