Two French sailors were rescued by a merchant ship yesterday afternoon after their vessel hit a whale or other large object about 200 nautical miles off Bermuda.

The pair, travelling on the 42ft catamaran Courtship, abandoned ship just after 1.30 p.m. when their vessel was damaged after colliding with what they thought was a whale and started taking on water.

They set off their emergency radio beacon and Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre helped co-ordinate a rescue. The Turkey-bound bulk carrier Gulser Ana picked the men up at about 4.30 p.m.

The centre issued a gale warning last night, saying there would be high seas and "pretty nasty conditions" throughout today.