east of Bermuda yesterday after two sailors were plucked from their stricken vessel by a passing ship which then headed at full speed for the Island.

RCC Bermuda Harbour Radio said last night that the US Coast Guard received a distress call yesterday morning from a crew member aboard a 30-foot sailboat Emma after the other crew member became gravely ill.

The boat was approximately 365 miles east of the Island and had been de-masted, was without power and was taking on water.

The US Coast Guard dispatched a C130 aircraft with para-rescue jumpers from the 106th Rescue Squadron who parachuted from the plane and landed in the ocean just after 7 p.m. last night.

The para-rescue team, who are emergency medical technicians, then boarded an inflatable raft -- which was thrown out of the back of the plane with them -- and made their way to the Crusader , a 615-foot, 22,000-gross-ton merchant bulk carrier, which rescued the sailors from their stricken yacht.

The Crusader was en route to Surinam but is now expected to arrive in Bermuda waters sometime this morning.

The ship will remain in deep water off the east end of the Island and will be met by a local pilot boat who will transport the two sailors and rescue team to shore.

The pilot boat will then be met by an ambulance which will transport the sick sailor to the hospital.

The two sailors are a 41-year old British man and a 26-year old Dutch man who were sailing from St. Martin to Holland.