Douglas lifeboat was launched today (Saturday) to go the aid of a yacht with engine failure.
The call-out from the Coastguard came at 3.35am.
The yacht, with three people on board, had been making for the island when it ran into difficulty about 26 miles south east of Douglas.
The wind had dropped, leaving the yacht to continue making way under power.
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The yacht’s engine then overheated and failed.
A spokesman said the RNLI all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer was launched under the command of volunteer coxswain Ed Christian.
A fishing boat had been standing by and illuminating the stricken yacht with its searchlights, enabling the lifeboat crew to easily locate the casualty vessel.
After ensuring that the yacht’s occupants were not in need of any assistance themselves, the yacht was taken under tow back to Douglas harbour to a berth on the visitors’ pontoon at Battery Pier where Douglas Coastguard was waiting to assist.
Leaving the yacht and its crew in the care of the Coastguard the lifeboat returned to station to be re-housed, washed down, re-fuelled and was made ready again for service.