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One of three Canadians picked up by a giant container ship at sea overnight after a storm hurt their Hawaii-bound sailboat is calling their dramatic rescue a “gauntlet of happiness.”

Brad James, 32, told CBC News on Thursday morning after the rescue that he felt fantastic, despite the dramatic chain of events that led to the family’s boat sinking, leaving him and his nine-year-ancient son, West, floating in the dark sea for 2½ hours.

James’s brother, Mitch, had also been aboard the boat but was rescued before the others. All three are now safe and in port in Honolulu.

Rescued 450 kilometres northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, they had been travelling from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Hilo on a sailboat named Liahona when they ran into distress. Their mast broke and the boat’s engine overheated in a storm.

‘There was tons of people there, and it was all these grown men, and most of us had tears in our eyes.’—Brad James, rescued boater

“[I’m] fantastic, just incredible,” Brad James said. “There was a while there we didn’t reckon we’d step foot on land and we’re here now.”

The weather was becoming increasingly rough, the winds honestly high and they had already lost their mast by 4:30 in the afternoon.

James said the seas were building and they had no other form of propulsion because their engine had broken down as well.

Weather conditions were poor at the time, with winds gusting to 40 knots and sea swells in the six-metre range.

“At about midnight we saw the freighter approach us,” James said. “It was huge compared to us and as they got closer and closer, we got an thought of how huge this boat was.”

Container ship happened by

Mitch, West and Brad James, left to right, aboard the Horizon Reliance container ship en route to Hilo, Hawaii, after being rescued at sea. (Hawaii News Now)

The three were saved by the crew of a 272-metre container ship that happened to be in the area.

The container ship, owned by Horizon Lines, responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard under the Automated Mutual Help Vessel Rescue Program on Wednesday to help the crew of the 12-metre sailboat in the predawn hours, a release from the U.S. company said.

Weather conditions were poor at the time, with winds gusting to 40 knots and sea swells in the six-metre range.

They spoke with the captain of the container ship who clarified what they were going to try to do.

“They were going to bring us alongside and fire lines across our boat and were to winch up to the side of their boat and they were just going to pull us up the gangway,” Brad James said.

The winds picked up as the ship approached and James, his brother and son were questioned to slide down the side of the boat and with fenders on the sides James clarifies they were prepared to do that until two really large waves hit them from behind and pushed them to the bow.

The Canadian family was rescued by a container ship 450 kilometres northeast of Hilo, Hawaii after their sailboat ran into distress (CBC)

“Those waves also brought the bow of that freighter up, and there’s a huge bulb underneath the surface about 28-feet [just over nine metres] down and that thing came out of the water and went right through our boat,” he said.

‘We’re going to die’

The boat was already filling with water and beginning to sink, so the three started swimming. James said as they came around the front of the boat, it was gone within two minutes.

James and his son became separated from Mitch — who had grabbed hold of a surfboard strapped to the side of the boat.

The two men and boy were all wearing life-jackets that had strobe lights attached, so the crew of the ship was able to keep them in sight.

The rescuers reached Mitchell James, 29, first and then it took about 50 minutes to manoeuvre the ship to pick up Brad James and his son.

During the 50 minutes they were at sea, James said he kept comforting his son, who kept saying, “We’re going to die.’”

James said once all three of them were safely aboard the ship, there was a swell of emotions.

“When I got up there on the ladder, they got me out of the life ring and got me ready to board the boat. And it was just a gauntlet of happiness. There was tons of people there, and it was all these grown men, and most of us had tears in our eyes. And from that point on, I just came to realize what this was. And how hard this was. And how incredible it turned out the way it did.”

The Horizon Reliance was instrumental in rescuing three Canadians who were adrift on a hurt sailboat in stormy weather. (Horizon Lines)

They were reported to have mild hypothermia, but appeared to be in excellent health, according to Morin. They were medically evaluated in Honolulu.

Nine-year-ancient West James remarked on the event.

“Two people started carrying me to the room because I had mild hypothermia,” West said. “And I just thought that people were really pleased to see you, that we were alive.”

“We are thankful the Horizon Reliance was in the right place at the right time to come to the aid of these individuals,” said William A. Hamlin, Horizon Lines senior vice-president of operations, in a release. “We commend Captain [James] Kelleher and his crew for their skilled seamanship in accomplishing a successful rescue despite very adverse weather conditions.”

Horizon Lines had gift bags containing clothes, chocolates and a camera waiting for the three when they arrived in Honolulu.