Island yesterday she managed to wreak havoc at sea.

Celebrity Cruises' ship Zenith left the Island last night, some seven hours before its normal scheduled departure of 3 p.m. today.

A Meyer Agencies spokesman said the ship, which was carrying 1,644 passengers, left for New York at 7.30 p.m. to avoid the hurricane.

Bertha, -- which left four dead in the Caribbean -- also forced 16 yachts participating in the West Marine Boat Cruising Rally from Hampton, Virginia to Bermuda to return to the Island.

The yachts, which arrived in Bermuda late last month, had left Bermuda on July 7. All but two decided to delay their trip back to the US and return to the Island.

One of the yachts, the 38-foot sloop Gold Star , was also struck by misfortune when a crew member suffered a heart attack yesterday morning and died on board. A Harbour Radio spokesman said the crewman's body was expected to be returned to Bermuda and claimed by his next of kin.

In other shipping news, Meyer Agencies said Bertha had not disrupted the departing schedules of the cruise ships Dreamward and Meridian . The Dreamward , which arrived on Monday and berthed at Penno's Wharf in St. George's and brought 1,432 passengers to Bermuda, will leave Bermuda from Hamilton at 2 p.m. today.

Meanwhile the Meridian , which arrived at Dockyard on Tuesday with 1,287 passengers, will leave the Island at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

John S. Darrell, local agents for the Song of America and Royal Majesty , also noted that Bertha had no effect on the ship's schedules.

The Song of America , which arrived on Tuesday with 1,468 passengers, will leave for Boston tomorrow. And the Royal Majesty , which brought 1,067 visitors, is also scheduled to depart tomorrow.

For container ships it was also business as usual this week.

Bermuda Islander brought 67 containers, including seven refrigerated ones on Monday. She left for Salem, New Jersey the same day. The Oleander also arrived on Monday with 38 refrigerated containers and 96 containers of dry goods, including steel beams and two trucks. She left on Tuesday.

A frequent summer visitor the Virginian also arrived in Bermuda this week. The 204-foot luxury yacht owned by billionaire John Werner Kluge arrived with 11 crew members from Nassau, Bahamas.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said the Russian yacht Vladimir Vysotsky also arrived in local waters this week. Her four crew members, representing the Russian city of Volgograd, are making courtesy calls on various cities around the world.

BILLIONAIRE'S BABY -- Metromedia giant John Werner Kluge's 204-foot luxury motoryacht the Virginian is pictured at anchor in Hamilton Harbour after steaming into port this past Saturday from Nassau, Bahamas, where Hurricane Bertha just ransacked. Kluge, who has a home here, is ranked 10th on Forbes' list of the world's wealthiest people. Sources say the Virginian and her 11 crew will be here for two months.