A GALWAY woman who was taking part in a round the world yacht race is resting with her crew in Indonesia after their vessel ran aground last week.

Thirty years old Orla Mellett and the rest of the crew of Cork are resting on Indonesia as they assess the damage to the yacht and decide whether to continue the race to Singapore or not.

The crew of eight were exhausted and emotional as they were transferred first onto California, another yacht taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, in the Java Sea on Wednesday night.

They are currently moored there and awaiting the arrival of the other nine vessels before they leave for the next leg of the race on Saturday.

There are now 23 people onboard the California in cramped conditions and very hot weather but apparently Orla and the two crews are bearing up.

Orla, a native of Corrandulla who works in the banking business in London, took a year long break from her job with Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking in London to take part in the yacht race. In the process she was also raising €5,000 each for both Croí and Aware and has already raised almost the total for Croí and almost €2,000 for Aware.

Orla and the crew had to abandon the yacht when it sank and were rescued with just the clothes they were wearing. And though it has been a grueling experience, no decision has been taken yet on whether the yacht can be rescued, repaired and continue to Singapore.

This leg of the race, which began on January 3, has been the most challenging for all crews because of high winds and high seas. The ten month long race covers 35,000 miles.