"They haven't slept, obviously. They're all extremely exhausted and just in shock still at the whole thing. He said it was a miracle no one was injured." The yacht smashed into the reef head-on at 20 knots, about 37km/h.
"He was in his bunk at the time. He was running up top to see ... and realised what they'd done, saw all the white water around," Josh said.
He confirmed all the crew members were safe.
Rob Salthouse's wife Kathy said she was informed of the incident by the team's shore manager yesterday morning. The first message was to alert her to what happened, while a second said they had "abandoned the yacht".
Mrs Salthouse said contact was sporadic - but after an anxious wait, she received better news later in the day.
Kiwis Rob Salthouse and Tony Rae.
"The next one was to say they had been rescued and they were on land, so that was a big relief, definitely."
She said her husband had been sailing since childhood, but the last time he had such a hair-raising experience was 13 years ago, when a boat he was on broke a rudder coming out of Cape Town.
Rob Salthouse's brother and fellow sailor Dean said the Volvo Ocean Race yachts were designed to handle all manner of wild conditions - but hitting a shoal at speed would be a violent and unnerving experience.
"It's incredible how quickly boats get disintegrated on coral reefs. It's just like being on a giant piece of sandpaper."
Dean Salthouse said it would have been a scary ordeal for all on board and it was amazing no one was injured.
"The speed these boats travel and the loads ... they put up with as it is, running into a structure at speed is not ideal. They're designed for massive loads and stresses but not for shock loads or impact loads."
Skipper Chris Nicholson.
He said it was fortunate his brother was relatively close to inhabited land.
Rae's daughter Katie said the sailor had checked in with his family last night.
"He is safe and well and naturally devastated by what has happened," Ms Rae said.
"I think they are all still somewhat in shock from what has happened in the last 24 hours. It's been a very long and tough day for the families as the story has unfolded."
A spokesman for the race said a coastguard vessel, probably from Mauritius or Reunion, rescued the crew from a small reef. "They had to get off the boat and then wade through knee-deep water to get to a dry spot. And then they had to hang around waiting for someone to come along and pick them up," Jon Bramley, Volvo Ocean Race news and media director said.
Facilities on Ile de Sud, where the crew were now staying in a house, were minimal.
The 50km long archipelago, also known as Cargados Carajos, once the haunt of pirates, had little infrastructure and a population numbering only in the dozens.
Mr Bramley said the plan was to get the crew on board a supply ship expected to pass by today. They hoped to retrieve more gear from the yacht before then.
Rob Salthouse, nicknamed Salty, is the team's watch captain, driver, trimmer and sailmaker. He has competed in three previous Volvo Ocean Races and four America's Cup campaigns.
Fellow Kiwi Tony Rae - the team's trimmer, medic and sailmaker - has competed in four previous Volvo events and seven America's Cup campaigns.
