The crew of a storm-ravaged yacht believe they had only minutes left to live when they were rescued by a heroic helicopter crew.

The three sailors were plucked from their yacht after three days fighting for their lives in 45-knot winds and 30-foot high waves.

Just minutes later the boat sank.

But it took immense bravery by the members of the US Coastguard team to carry out the rescue in conditions worse than they had ever experienced before.

Both the four-man helicopter crew and the trio of sailors were safe in Bermuda yesterday following their nightmare experience.

Captain Nicholas Hull, from Toronto, and his crew of Mr. Mark Termini, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Ron Reggev, of New Jersey, had set off from Beaufort, North Carolina last Tuesday.

They were aiming to sail the 41-foot ketch Malachite to Bermuda and then travel onto the Virgin Islands.

On Thursday they radioed Bermuda Harbour Radio to say they were heading into stormy conditions -- but they had no idea what was in store.

Mr. Hull recalled their ordeal. "It started about three days ago. We hit a storm. In 15 years of sailing I have never seen anything like it.

"The winds went from 25 knots to 45 knots, the waves were so big it was like apartment buildings were coming towards us. One wave would hit us and when it had gone there would be another one heading our way.

"Our life raft literally blew away. We had our sea anchors down but we were still travelling at 11 knots.'' Mr. Termini added: "The sails and masts had blown away. The deck looked like a scrapyard. There was nothing left there. We had cables and rope trailing behind the boat.'' Mr. Hull said: "We were fighting to keep going for three days and three nights. We did not sleep or eat during the whole time. In fact I did not have time to secure myself to the boat and I went overboard early in the storm.'' Then on Sunday morning the boat flipped over while Mr. Termini was steering.

"I was just thrown over,'' he said. The captain was inside the boat and found himself trapped under tables and chairs which had been thrown around when the boat capsized. But the boat righted itself.

Meanwhile, the US Coastguard was assessing the situation after flying C130 planes over the scene. Ten life rafts had been dropped to the boat but they were blown away from the yachtsmen.

The Coastguard eventually decided to fly a Jayhawk helicopter to the stricken Malachite .

The crew included pilot Lt. Bruce Jones, co-pilot Lt. J.G. Randy Watson, hoist operator AD2 Dave Barber and rescue swimmer ASM2 Dave Yoder.

Lt. Jones said: "We heard the yacht was in distress and we estimated that we had enough fuel to take us there and onto Bermuda. It was too far out for us to return to the United States.'' So the helicopter set off at 3.20 p.m. American time and arrived over the Malachite three hours later.

"At this point the compass had started to spark. The engine room was on fire,'' recalled Mr. Termini.

"We could hear the helicopter overhead but they could not see us. It was so dark. They were only 20 feet above us but we just blended in to the breakers.

"We had been literally surfing on the waves for three days. I am talking about a 14-ton yacht.

"The helicopter crew told us they might not be able to save us and would have to return in 12 hours. If that had happened we would have been dead.'' Lt. Jones said: "When we saw them we knew the situation was serious. We asked them what they wanted to do and they just wanted to get off the boat. We had to save their lives.'' So while the crew was jumping into the water, ADM Yoder was leaping from the aircraft fastened to a hoist.

"The hardest part was trying to find them but with the help of searchlights I could see all three men together so I swam towards them. It was tough in 30 foot high waves.'' Mr. Yoder attached Mr. Termini to the hoist cage but then found the two other sailors 50 yards away. "I swam towards them and had a lot of difficulty getting the second man into the cage. It just kept pulling away from me. I was beginning to get exhausted.'' Mr. Hull was the last man to be lifted from the sea leaving the helicopter crewman in the rough waters. As AD2 Barber tried to hoist him up the cable almost snapped.

Lt. Jones said: "If we could not have picked him up we would have left him until the next day, but we would have provided him with a life raft.'' Mr. Yoder said: "I had every confidence in Dave Barber because he trained me.

But I have never been so happy as when I saw the door of that helicopter.'' Helicopter crew praised after rescue From Page 1 A relieved Mr. Hull added: "The boat sank almost immediately. We had literally minutes to live before we were rescued.'' The Jayhawk landed back in Bermuda with just 50 minutes fuel left in its tanks.

The three crew members have nothing left. They were even without their clothes when they were taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Mr. Hull was suffering from broken ribs while Mr. Termini and Mr. Reggev escaped with just a few cuts and bruises.

The Women's Hospital Auxiliary heard of their plight and provided clothes from their shop, the Barn.

Speaking from the Mariners' Club, which is providing accommodation until the men can fly home, Mr. Hull said: "We have basically nothing left, everything went down with the boat. But since then we have received nothing but kindness from the people of Bermuda.

"It was a horrific experience. The coastguard guys were unbelievable. They really saved our lives. The guy who jumped into the sea was incredibly brave, we owe it all to him.'' Lt. Jones added: "Dave Yoder is the real hero of this. He has never been into seas like this before. We have trained for years to be ready for something like this but never actually experienced it.'' Yesterday Mr. Hull and Mr. Termini were refusing to speak with Mr. Reggev after arguments during the ordeal.

RESCUE TEAM -- The US Coastguard heroes (from left to right): Lt. J.G. Randy Watson, Lt. Bruce Jones, ASM2 Dave Yoder and AD2 Daver Barber.

CHEERS! -- Mr. Mark Termini (left) and Mr. Nicholas Hull toast the rescuers who ended their nightmare ordeal at sea.