Mitchell James (left), brother Bradley James (right) and Bradley's son West, 9, were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard when their 38-foot sailboat was disabled about 450 km northeast of Hilo, Hawaii. (Horizon Lines Inc.)

Three Canadians, including a nine-year-old boy, were rescued from the middle of the Pacific Ocean after their sailboat sank Wednesday.

The family — identified by Hawaii News Now as Mitchell James, brother Bradley James and Bradley's son West, of Edmonton — was travelling from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Hawaii, when their 38-foot sailboat was disabled in rough waters about 450 km northeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

The vessel's engine had overheated, and it had damage to its mast. When the men tried to rig a makeshift sail, high winds blew their mast away.

The crew contacted the U.S. Coast Guard around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the American agency said in a news release.

The coast guard requested assistance from the 800-foot container ship Horizon Reliance, which at the time was more than 200 km away. The rescue ship was approaching the stranded trio at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday when a swell in the ocean caused the Canadians' sailboat to capsize and sink, tossing all three into the water, in the dark.

The Horizon Reliance was able rescue one of the men about an hour later, but the other man and the boy had drifted away. It took another hour to get them out of the water, the release said.

The coast guard said the passengers' life-jackets, fitted with strobe lights, helped keep them in sight.

All three are said to be in good condition.