THE Uto ni Yalo suffered its fourth injury since leaving Honiara last Wednesday.
While taking shelter in Wanderer Bay from the high pressure system that forced the vaka back to Guadalcanal from 465km south into the ocean after leaving Honiara, exchange crew Nick White broke a toe on his right leg when a hatch cover fell on it on Sunday.
He was taken by a Suqu villager by fibreglass boat to the nearest town, Tangarare, a 30-minute ride along the coast towards Honiara.
Mr White, 20, and his colleague Galen McCleary, 20, students of Stanford University in Hawaii, joined the Uto ni Yalo from Shark Angels on board the Sea Sheperd's Brigitte Bardot in Honiara.
He was given five stitches by the lone nurse at Tangarare mission and told to return for a review in seven days.
"It wasn't a very good job but it'll do for now," he said after returning to the Uto ni Yalo. Both students, who were on board to experience the Fijian culture and traditional sailing, expressed sadness when they disembarked the Uto Monday night on to a boat from Suqu Village for Honiara where Mr White will receive further treatment.
He joins the injury list of Joe Browne, Mausio Mario Mafai and Setareki Ledua, who were injured during the dash to land through the squalls off the Guadalcanal coast.
Mr Browne suffered a lower back injury and Mr Mafai a sore ankle when huge swells knocked them off their feet.
Mr Ledua suffered a cut to his finger while cooking during the storm.
They have all recovered.
The Uto ni Yalo, Marumaru Atua and Te Matau set sail yesterday for Lughughi Bay on Renell Island, about 314km southeast of us, to join the Hine Moana, Haunui, Fafaite and Okeanos for the trip to Noumea, New Caledonia.
The Fijians then sail home for the last time after three years on their world crusade.