sailors in distress in stormy seas off Bermuda.

So far it is believed one man has drowned and four people are lost at sea in a life raft.

Yachts heading northeast were faced with the worst of the storm, which was spawned in the Atlantic on Monday as the result of a low pressure and associated frontal system.

Crew members were confronted with 18-foot seas and winds of up to 50 knots.

But US Naval Oceanography Command facility forecasters said seas died down yesterday to about 12 feet and winds to between 30-40 knots.

Harbour Radio reported last night that the search for a yacht and its four-person crew, missing since Monday, will continue today. A third US Coast Guard plane will be sent out and hopefully a PC-Orion.

It is believed the yacht is either the Zuna or Ocean Vagabond , which are both 62-feet and British-registered. The Zuna left Bermuda last Wednesday.

An emergency signal alerted Harbour Radio on Monday and a major air and sea search began soon after.

Meanwhile, two more water-activated EPIRB signals were received from yachts 800-1,200 miles northeast. Shipping in the area was alerted and searches began.

And a fourth yacht, the Wailua , whose four-person crew abandoned ship in high seas, was located yesterday.

Harbour Radio diverted a cargo ship in the area to its rescue. However, one crew member, having climbed aboard the ship, fell from it and was lost at sea, the spokesman said.

WEATHER WEA The USNOCF yesterday posted a small craft warning for local boaters. Southwest winds of 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 knots were expected to start at 8 p.m.

last night and continue until 4 p.m. today.