Yachtsmen had a torrid time heading to Bermuda late last week as an unexpectedly strong storm threw up tropical storm force winds and waves as high as three-storey buildings.

Apart from the crew of Magique, who were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after abandoning their yacht off Bermuda, at least three other crews were saved.

Four Nova Scotians were pulled up the side of a 230-metre bulk carrier on Thursday from the deck of Rochelle IV.

Owner Brian Lewis of Yarmouth, told the Halifax Chronicle Herald on Saturday that the storm destroyed his boat 640 kilometres southeast of Cape Cod on Thursday and forced them to abandon ship.

The newspaper said that what was supposed to have been a six-day crossing to Bermuda for Mr. Lewis, his wife and daughter and crewmate David Syer of Shelburne quickly turned to a daring sea rescue as huge seas knocked out every window on the 42-foot boat, flooding the engine compartment and causing the vessel to begin sinking.

"She came over 90 degrees and put the mast in the water twice. We just rolled over in a big wave," Mr. Lewis said.

As the sailors were being tossed about, Mr. Lewis's wife broke her left arm.

"The boat lay on its side. She (Sheila) was thrown across the cabin and smashed into some cupboards on the other side, so we had to get her out of the boat and secure her down tight," Mr. Lewis said.

"Another wave came in and took out the windows in the boat, so we were slowly sinking.

"We called for rescue and luckily the Anthemis was very, very close to us."

The Greek freighter Anthemis came to the scene after a Canadian Forces Hercules aircraft located her. "This cargo ship was sitting alongside of us as a wind break. It was pretty harrowing for a while," he said. "The small boats they put over the side were damaged against the ship because the waves were so big and finally . . . the ship made another pass by us and threw ropes to us.

"Some of the waves . . . lifted us up and we could have nearly stepped off onto the ship," Mr. Lewis said."They finally lifted us up on the ship here. It was quite incredible."

On the same day, Max Palla was battling the storm on board his 36-foot sailboat about 270 miles southeast of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

"You don't know if the next wave will be the last wave that's going to kill you. It's like torture," Mr. Palla told The Montreal Gazette on Friday from aboard HMCS Athabaskan, the ship that saved him and two crewmates. "The water was coming inside and everything was everywhere. You feel like you are in the laundry, the clothes-washing machine."

The 34-year-old recounted how waves pummelled their yacht, La Pierva, taking out their sail and all their navigation systems.

They were lost and without power as swells hit 24 feet, winds gusted to gale force and lightning blasted their equipment as they crossed the Gulf Stream en route to Bermuda.

"You ask yourself if this is your last hour, last day, last minute, last second, because every wave was so strong," he said as the Athabaskan headed toward Norfolk, Virginia.

"It was a special experience. ... To say we are lucky is nothing."

They established contact with a passing tanker, which shone a light near the crippled sailboat. Mr. Palla said the sight of that vessel gave them hope to ride out the storm until the Athabaskan arrived about 4 a.m. on Thursday.

On Monday, four sailors from Poole, Dorset on their way to Bermuda from New York were rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter off the Cape Cod.

The men were sailing in their vessel, La Bella, when they became caught in high winds and reported that the rough seas were breaking apart the boat's keel.

The Coast Guard said on Monday that all four men escaped the incident uninjured and were recovering.