Chris Bouzaid.
A New Zealand yachting legend is recovering in the United States after being crushed by his own boat.
Chris Bouzaid was sailing off the coast of Maine last Friday when he was sandwiched between his vessel, Waianiwa III, the sloop's dinghy and rocks.
Bouzaid was in the water
trying to set the anchor and keep the 18m sloop from drifting further into rocks when he was crushed, breaking several ribs.
The US Coastguard rescued Bouzaid, 64, and his companion, Lydia Langston. Bouzaid was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
Bouzaid won the One Ton Cup in 1969 - a victory which put New Zealand on the international yachting map. The event was conceived as an "everyman's America's Cup".
Bouzaid won it again in 1972 and finished second twice. He also captained the New Zealand Admirals Cup challenge in 1975.
Bouzaid has been based in the United States for many years, and the current Waianiwa III is the second yacht of that name he has sailed.
Bouzaid sailed the Waianiwa II on two laps of the Pacific, to South America and the Galapagos Islands, and New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and South Africa.
On his website Bouzaid describes the stranded vessel, Waianiwa III, as "a dream come true".
The website says the sloop has "an exceptionally strong one-piece hull that could withstand whatever the good lord chose to throw at her".
However, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said the Waianiwa III sustained significant damage in the incident, including holes in the hull.
The Times Record newspaper in Maine said attempts were still being made to salvage the sloop.
The newspaper gave few details of how the Waianiwa came to run aground on the southwest side of Haskell Island, but said the local harbourmaster, Kevin Cady, was on the scene about 1pm.
Mr Cady performed first aid on Bouzaid before the New Zealand yachtsman was transferred to hospital for observation and testing.
Bouzaid's sister, Marlene Mak of Mission Bay, did not know of her brother's misfortune until contacted by the Herald. "That's terrible news, but he seems to be all right, and that's the main thing."
