The youngest of three Canadian sailors plucked from the stormy Pacific Ocean this week says he'd sail again, but not necessarily on another attempt to reach Hawaii from Mexico.

Nine-year-old Wesley James was rescued alongside his father Bradley James and uncle Mitchell James this week, after the sailboat they were taking from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico was caught in violent weather some 450 kilometres off the coast of their destination, Hawaii.

Describing his experience on Canada AM, Wesley said the most harrowing moments came as he and his father were floating in the churning ocean, trying to reach the container ship that had come to their rescue.

"For a few minutes I thought we were just going to keep drifting further and further away from the boat. Probably keep on drifting until morning and we wouldn't see the boat and then we'd be stuck out there," the young James said.

The trio had been on a planned four-week journey when it was beset by foul weather.

Storms had not only destroyed the sail of their 11-metre boat, but completely tore the mast off when they tried to rig a makeshift replacement.

After their overheated engine cut out, they issued a call for help that was answered by the 893-ft. Horizon Reliance. But when the ship arrived and attempted to rescue the three sailors, a collision caused their sailboat to take on water and sink.

That left the three bobbing in the swelling ocean.

"It took the boat apart and took us apart too," Wesley's dad Bradley said Friday, explaining that he was solely focused on hanging onto his boy.

Now that his feet are firmly planted on dry land, young Wesley James said he's not entirely turned off future adventures at sea.

"I'd still sail, but I probably wouldn't go on a trip like this," he said. "Unless we had a really good boat."

Not yet looking forward to future maritime adventures, Mitchell James said he's still letting the experience sink in.

"It was quite an experience and I'm still thinking about it and feeling extremely humble and lucky to be here today."