The Coast Guard rescued 14 people adrift in life rafts in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 90 miles off the coast of Hatteras, N.C. on Monday morning, following the sinking of their ship in 40 mile-per-hour winds.

The heroic Coast Guard effort to rescue survivors from the replica tall ship, HMS Bounty, involved helicopters, baskets and swimmers in the midst of some 18-ft swells.

The first Jayhawk crew arrived on scene at approximately 6:30 a.m. and hoisted five people into the aircraft, and a second helicopter arrived and rescued nine people. All were taken to a Coast Guard air station. Two people remain missing.

(WATCH the video below, or READ the story by Richard Branson)