raging seas as a holiday voyage turned to tragedy.

Dr. Souetre and his friend Mr. Jean Gilles Socolowski were on deck as their boat, the Talina , ploughed through 50-foot waves whipped up by 50-knot winds, when 30-year-old Mr. Socolowski was swept overboard.

He was wearing his safety gear and lifejacket and for 20 minutes Dr. Souetre tried to pull the rope in -- but his friend had slipped from the harness.

The tragedy happened on Wednesday and yesterday a United States Coast Guard aircraft was searching a 340 square-mile area north-west of Bermuda for the missing crewman.

A US Coast Guard plane used in the search landed at Bermuda International Airport just after 4 p.m. last night after lack of light forced a halt to the rescue mission. It was expected to resume operations at first light today.

The Talina , a 65-foot ketch, left Boston bound for Bermuda on Christmas Eve with ten people -- including four children -- on board. She berthed at St.

George's yesterday morning and Dr. Souetre's wife was immediately taken to hospital for a back injury she suffered when she was thrown from a bunk during the storm.

Dr. Souetre and other crew members declined to comment on the tragedy, which happened 150 miles off Bermuda.

However, it is understood the trip was meant to be a holiday for the French doctor, his family and close friends -- including Mr. Socolowski.

But four days into the voyage, the boat started to hit high winds which reached up to 50 knots -- causing waves higher than the Talina 's mast.

Dr. Souetre and Mr. Socolowski were on deck when a wave crashed over their boat, sweeping Mr. Socolowski overboard.

It is understood Mr. Socolowski was wearing his safety harness and that the skipper tried for 20 minutes to pull him back in, but his friend slipped out of the gear.

The crew immediately reported a man overboard and turned their yacht around to spend three hours searching for Mr. Socolowski.

The cargo ship, the Oleander , was diverted to the scene and US Coast Guard aircraft was also scrambled. The aircraft also carried on the search yesterday. It is not known how long the Talina will be staying in Bermuda.

On Thursday morning, the Government pilot boat St. David towed the 50-foot yawl Figaro into St. George's after another harrowing voyage, this one from Maine.

The yawl, which is similar to a ketch but has one mast much taller than the other, had suffered damage to her engine and all her sails in heavy gales, a Harbour Radio spokesman said.

Her storm jib provided limited ability to sail, but St. David towed Figaro in from about three miles east of Bermuda.

The American-registered boat, with one couple aboard, had set out for Bermuda from Camden, Maine.