started to sink.

The 54-foot sloop La Chasseresse left St. George's yesterday afternoon and had only got as far as North East Breaker, four and a half miles offshore, when she was holed.

The Marine Police vessel Heron I arrived on the scene and started pumping the yacht out, and was soon joined by the pilot boat St. George . With both pumps operating, La Chasseresse was towed back.

"It was very lucky she was so near,'' said a Harbour Radio spokesman. "She had extensive damage and if we hadn't been able to get pumps on board she would definitely have sunk.''