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A racing yacht and an oil tanker have collided during the opening day of Cowes Week.

The Marine Knutsen supertanker was preparing to turn up Southampton Water when the yacht, Atalanta of Chester, tried to cross its bow.

The tanker ploughed into the yacht, knocking two crew members overboard. One was taken to hospital with a head injury, while the other was unharmed.

The yacht then caught its spinnaker in the tanker’s anchor, which dismasted the yacht.

Video courtesy of COWES.co.uk.

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