two American yachting couples at risk hundreds of miles off the Island.

The Owl , being sailed by one of the couples, is taking on water but has no power or means of communicating long-distance.

Her 57-year-old captain has a broken rib but has refused to abandon ship, although his wife is believed to be more willing.

The other yacht, Gentle Presence , with a 71-year-old skipper, is watching over her as they head for Antigua. But she too has engine trouble and a damaged mast.

Now airwaves monitor Mr. Herb Hilgenberg may have to contact a boat leaving Bermuda to go to the aid of the two vessels.

The drama, which started on Sunday, has seen the US Coastguard, Harbour Radio and Mr. Hilgenberg in almost constant contact as the two yachts were battered by 30 foot seas and violent winds.

Mr. Hilgenberg contacts up to 60 vessels a night from his home in Paget, and provides weather information for rescue services.

He was alerted to the plight of the 35-foot Owl , which was leaking badly about 300 miles southeast of the Island, her last port of call.

Coastguard planes flew to the scene and dropped two pumps, but the couple on board the yacht, known only as "Don'' and "Marcia'', could not get them to work.

A nearby tanker, the Montrachet , was asked to take the couple aboard, but heavy seas scuppered the attempt. Another ship was contacted, but by this time the weather had calmed slightly and the couple were able to get their motor running and bring the leaking under control.

Yesterday afternoon, however, the motor broke down once more and the couple were back to manual pumping.

They asked for a generator and the Gentle Presence agreed to hand over hers.

But then she ran into engine trouble and needed the generator herself.

Mr. Hilgenberg said the Gentle Presence couple, whom he knows as "Willie'' and 68-year-old "Emily'', had "done a tremendous job''.

"If Owl had not managed to contact them, purely by luck, no-one would have known about her until a missing vessel report in two or three weeks.

"I'm the link between the coastguard and the Gentle Presence , who is the link with Owl .'' Mr. Hilgenberg believes a boat leaving Bermuda may have to head for the Gentle Presence with spare parts for her engine, so she can give the Owl her generator.