Shocked crowds at Cowes Week watched as a racing yacht collided with an oil tanker.

People had gathered to see the first races of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, when a large vessel was seen heading towards a number of small yachts taking part.

One boat, named Atalanta, was unable to get out of the way and got tangled up with the ship’s anchor.

The yacht’s sails were completely ripped off during the incident, which happened at around 3.20pm yesterday.

The event’s pilot boat was scrambled to get the nine crew off the stricken yacht.

Two people were thrown overboard and one crew member was taken to St Mary's Hospital with a head injury. He has since been discharged. The other was unharmed.