offshore.

The pair, thought to be residents, suffered an engine failure in the Boston Whaler on Sunday, several miles to the north west of Dockyard -- far beyond the limit allowed for rental craft.

By chance a passing fishing vessel picked the pair up, but on return later discovered the boat missing -- and a subsequent search has failed to locate the small craft.

Marine Police and Harbour Radio both issued a stern warning to locals and tourists alike, to stay within safer inshore waters in hire craft, in a weekend of many marine incidents.

Sgt. Gary Venning, of the Marine Police, said: "Rental craft should stay in protected waters. They are certainly not suitable for going offshore.

"The rental companies give guidance on where they can and can't go, and people should be guided by that.

"It can be risky at that distance. If you didn't know where you were, there are a lot of reefs out there and local boat operators are aware of that and negotiate those areas with caution.'' The pair, who had taken their boat from Windjammer Watersports, had dropped anchor at around 11 a.m., when they were discovered at Western Blue Cut by the skipper of the local fishing vessel, Special D . He took the stranded men aboard and headed out fishing, intending to pick the boat up on the return journey.

But later both the Special D and Windjammer were unable to locate the 15-foot boat, which Marine Police believe could now be drifting in the open ocean. A Harbour Radio spokesman said the two men were lucky that the fisherman had passed by and reminded pleasure boaters not to stray out of the Great Sound or inshore waters.

An alert has been issued for the missing boat but Sgt. Venning said the chances of finding it now were minimal.

"The wind was pretty strong out of the east/southeast, so it would have caused the boat to drift offshore. We have not got a lot of boats in that particular area.

"The chances of coming across it would be quite remote.'' Meanwhile, Marine Police responded to the call of another rental vessel, overdue from its return time at Windjammer Watersports at Cambrige Beaches.

Pair narrowly escape sea disaster A Harbour Radio spokesman said the boat, with two people aboard, was reported 30 minutes late at 7.30 p.m. on Sunday.

A Police vessel searched for the vessel around Ely's Harbour and Daniel's Head, but it subsequently arrived at the boat yard at 8 p.m. with one person aboard.

Harbour Radio reported that one of the occupants had swam ashore.

And Marine Police secured a drifting pontoon, which was discovered on Saturday off Spit Head. Officers secured the 10ft by 8ft dock.

Harbour Radio said there were numerous other small emergencies on the water over the weekend, with breakdowns and boats running out of petrol.