Sailboat torn apart after capsizing near US pier

A small sailboat has been smashed apart and its crew sent flying after it was capsized by a large wave near a beach in California.

The yacht was making its way back to shore when the wind went against its sail and the current carried it close to the pier of Redondo Beach.

Bystanders watched on, one filming, as the vessel made the precarious journey in unfavourable winds.

After overcoming the power of a number of waves, the yacht was unable to withstand the relentless force with one wave flipping the boat and sending it crashing into the pier's pillars.

Such was the strength of the wave that sailors aboard were flung metres into the air.

As the broken hull of the yacht was left wedged between the pillars, local swimmers and surfers scrambled into the waves to help the bewildered crew.

All four crew made it safely back to shore, YouTube user Jason Wells wrote in a post accompanying the video.

Mr Wells uploaded the video to YouTube on March 31. It has been watched more than 40,000 times.