Two sailors were plucked from the Atlantic early this morning but a search is underway for a third crew member who was reported to have been swept overboard after their catamaran capsized 200 miles off Bermuda.

The two survivors were reported to have been winched onto a US Coast Guard helicopter and were airlifted to Bermuda where they are recovering from hypothermia in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

RCC Bermuda said it received a Search and Rescue Satellite (SARSAT) System alert at 5.21 p.m. yesterday, from a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) indicating a distress 200 miles east of Bermuda.

"Liaising with the US Coast Guard in Norfolk Virginia, and obtaining the details from the U . Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Falmouth Cornwall, it was determined the 37 foot Catamaran "Haley" was possibly in distress in the indicated position, believed to have three people onboard," RCC Bermuda said in an incident report.

"The vessel was reported to be on a voyage from La Sable in France via the Portuguese Island Madeira, to Annapolis Maryland in the USA..

"The US Coast Guard dispatched a C-130 search aircraft which located the capsized vessel with two persons detected clinging to the hull. An HH60 Helicopter equipped for winching was dispatched to the scene via Bermuda for refueling and a second C-130 aircraft accompanied the Helicopter which departed Bermuda at 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday to commence recovery of survivors.

"Two survivors were recovered suffering hypothermia. They reported seeing the third person washed overboard by a large wave. The person was not wearing a lifejacket. The third person remains the object of a U. S. Coast Guard search effort in the area.

"The two survivors were flown to Bermuda International Airport to a waiting ambulance and are being treated for hypothermia at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital."