PHUKET: Phuket rescuers plucked a woman and her two daughters to safety today after a storm savagely battered and almost sank a catamaran owned by a 68-year-old German sailor.

Paul Ziemann, unable to part from his battered craft, Blue Lagoon, stayed with the boat, which was beached today on Maithon Island off Phuket's east coast.

''We didn't think we would make it through the night,'' said Tewarat Kongmeung, 34, after she and her two young daughters, Jennifer Misch, 10, and Nathaly Misch, eight, were returned safely to Phuket.

The rescue was carried out by a speedboat operated by the Phuket Tourist Rescue Centre in Chalong, once radio contact was reestablished today.

''The storm ripped the boat away from its anchor, the radio went dead, and water flooded in,'' Khun Tewarat said. ''We had to bail for our lives. It was a life-and-death situation.

''The water swept in one side of the vessel and out the other, carrying everything with it. Paul tried to save important documents, but everything went over the side.

''Paul was very courageous and refused to let the sea win. He treasures his boat.''

The storm struck in darkness, about 2am. Ironically, Khun Tewarat works for a Phuket sailmaker, the legendary Australian Rolly Tasker, as product manager at his sailmaking business.

Mr Ziemann had anchored the Blue Lagoon off Maithon Island after leaving Phuket about 3pm yesterday. He first came to Phuket in April and returned about two months ago.

Phuket is well-known for savage microstorms that can sweep in unexpectedly at any time and even beached a dozen King's Cup racers in December at Kata.

Phuket and other Andaman Sea provinces are the subject of a ''heavy to very heavy'' rainstorm warning for today and tomorrow. Small vessels are advised not to put to sea.