A sailing boat which tore a two-foot hole in its side 12 miles off Bermuda had to be towed to safety on Thursday.

The lone crew man contacted Harbour Radio after fighting a losing battle with the leak which flooded one compartment and threatened another.

Fishing vessel Challenger came to the aid of the 55 foot long Tao which had left Florida and was bound for the Azores when the accident happened.

A bilge pump was placed on board and used to pump out water while the stricken craft was towed into safety at Ely's Harbour where it is still moored.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said the yachtsman had no idea what caused the hole in a stretch of water free of reef and it could take weeks to repair.

The spokesman said recently a boat cracked a hole in its side 80 miles off the north west of Bermuda - in that case a towing line or housing was the suspected culprit.

Canadian visitor robbed in St. George's

A 23-year-old Canadian visitor was the victim of a robbery in St. George's last week.

The male victim was standing with another man at the junction of York Street and King's Square when he was approached by an unknown man who asked for money. The suspect then searched the victim's pockets, taking approximately $15 in cash and personal items before making good his escape. Police subsequently arrested a 21-year-old Smith's man.

Group attacks Warwick man

At 45-year-old Warwick man was attacked by five other men last week at Cricket Lane in Sandys. The victim told Police that he was leaving Somerset Cricket Club while putting money in his back pocket when he was approached by a man who asked for money. The victim denied the man's request and a scuffle took place. Witnesses are asked to call 234-1010.