Six people were rescued yesterday after the mast on their catamaran broke amid 20 foot waves and another yacht was brought safely into the Island as near gale force winds battered Bermuda.

Belco reported the high winds caused 40 homes to lose power for around an hour yesterday, mostly in Grape Bay, Riddell's Bay, and at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research. Extra Belco crews were on standby last night in case of further disruption caused by the winds as the gale warning has been extended into today.

The six crew, who are believed to be American, left Bermuda on the US-registered catamaran Solitude on Sunday, but reported their mast had broken 160 miles north west of the Island at 10.20 a.m. yesterday.

The captain notified Harbour Radio he was unable to steer, making the yacht impossible to control.

The crew, facing 20 foot waves and 25 knot winds, asked to abandon the vessel and Harbour Radio put out an emergency broadcast to ships in the area.

The 950 foot US container ship Sealand Performance , which was one mile away, pulled beside the 44-foot catamaran and took onboard the six crew, one of whom suffered a cut hand, around noon. The Solitude was travelling to Stamford, Connecticut.

The crew will be dropped off in Charlotte, North Carolina, by the Sealand Performance . Harbour Radio put out a warning to ships to look out for the Solitude which is now drifting and could cause a hazard.

Crew rescued during gales "They were concerned because they could not steer and that's why they made the decision to abandon,'' said a Harbour Radio spokesman. "There was also the forecast of gales around the Bermuda area.'' Meanwhile, a local fishing boat, Nothing's Easy , spotted a 20-foot French Yacht Artane struggling along South Shore at 1 p.m. yesterday and towed it safely into Ely's Harbour. It was later discovered that the 54-year-old French sailor, who had been at sea for 14 days travelling from St. Martin in the Caribbean, was without radio communication. Belco spokeswoman Robin Siddes said last night: "Due to the high winds, approximately 40 customers were without power, but it wasn't too bad. We have extra crews on standby in case it gets worse during the night.''