for Bermuda.

Fierce winds and waves have wrecked one of the boat's sails, and the engine has cut off.

The men have also lost their life raft, and their emergency beacon has packed up.

A big air-and-sea search for Passion seems likely to swing into action shortly.

The white 40ft ketch was last heard of on Saturday, some 100 miles north of Bermuda. It was en route from the New England area, and due here at 1.45 a.m.

yesterday.

Last night a Harbour Radio spokesman said the New York Coastguard was being alerted. "We are getting very concerned, and stepping up the search,'' the spokesman added.

The stricken vessel was known to have run into stormy weather on the Atlantic.

Although one sail has been blown out, the men are believed to still have use of the others.

The pair - neither thought to be local -- have not sent out a distress signal.

The Harbour Radio spokesman said the boat had been heading southwest into the wind. A limited search had been started over the weekend.

"We are now more actively pursuing the vessel since she is overdue. We don't want to waste any time,'' the spokesman said.

"Conditions have been rough, rough enough to make sailing very unpleasant and uncomfortable, and even dangerous.

"Our last direct contact with the vessel was on Saturday.'' He explained shipping in the area would be alerted about Passion .

Ships would be pinpointed through the New York Coastguard's satellite communications.

Customs at Ordnance Island were also on the lookout, the spokesman continued.

He added the stage was near when an air search might be necessary.

Details about the missing ketch were being sent to the New York Coastguard.

Rough Atlantic weather also forced three Britons to abandon their yacht, The Aragorn .

The Aragorn was heading to Puerto Rico from Nova Scotia when it hit trouble.

It was about 500 miles north northeast of Bermuda when the crewmen were rescued. A Danish vessel, Amulet , picked up the three at about 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The vessel could arrive in Bermuda today. The crewmen are not thought to have been harmed.

Also caught up in the bad weather were passengers on the cruise ship Royal Princess , which berthed at Dockyard yesterday.

The 757ft ship endured a stormy passage from New York. Many of the passengers suffered seasickness.