A lucky escape for Peter Burling, but not for one of his Team Brunel crew-mates in the round the world yacht race.

The decorated Kiwi sailor and Brit Annie Lush were swept into the rear guard rail after their boat was hit by a wave on the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Cape Town to Melbourne.

READ MORE: National blames govt for America's Cup base decision hold up

Their team says Burling is doing well, but Lush says she has injured her back and is unable to leave her bunk.

"As I was getting up I felt that one of the wires had done something inside, and I big pain in my right-hand side and I couldn't really move my right leg."

Team Brunel has been in contact with doctors every six hours.

Dongfeng Race Team is currently holding a slender lead over MAPFRE over halfway through the leg in the Southern Ocean.