Bromby, was missing and presumed drowned yesterday.

Charles was feared to be the third fatality in the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race -- while three others remained missing in rough seas last night.

Charles, sailing with George Skuodas, finished 11th in the Star Class at the Atlanta Olympics in July, 1996, two places ahead of Bromby and Lee White.

Bromby could not be contacted yesterday.

Robin Poke, a spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), admitted it was unlikely the 33-year-old Charles could survive more than 24 hours at sea after being washed off Sword of Orion on Sunday night.

"He has been out there in 10-metre (30-feet) waves and 80-kilometre (50-mile) winds,'' Poke said Monday. "He will be a superman if he makes it.'' Charles sailed in four Admiral's Cups as well as representing Britain in the Olympics.

Two sailors died after gale-force winds and high seas battered the entrants.

And four members from the veteran cutter Winston Churchill were winched to safety from a life raft before dark yesterday.

Two more crew from the Winston Churchill were plucked from a second life raft late last night, but three others who had been aboard the raft were still missing.

The two dead, both Australians, were found on the 40-foot vessel Business Post Naiad, about 60 miles off the New South Wales state town of Merimbula. The yacht's owner-skipper Bruce Guy and first-time race participant Phil Skeggs were killed.

American John Campbell was rescued by a police helicopter after being swept overboard when Kingurra rolled over 22 miles south of Gabo Island.