The captain of a boat that capsized on a lake in New York State, killing 20 people, told authorities it was hit by waves from another boat or boats, and his went over as he tried to steer out of them, authorities said today.

A seemingly ideal day of sailing along a calm but busy US mountain lake turned abruptly tragic yesterday when a tour boat carrying a group of senior citizens overturned, killing 21 people and injuring dozens more.