Port St Mary lifeboat was launched to help the crew of a yacht that had run aground.

The 28ft yacht with two people on board had been blown by a force 6 easterly wind onto rocks close to the main slipway between the port’s harbour and breakwater.

Inshore lifeboat The Spirit of Leicester, with a crew of four, was launched at 6.30pm last night (Friday) following a request from Belfast coastguard.

A tow-line was attached to the yacht to haul it off the rocks and return it to its mooring.

The lifeboat crew offered to take the vessel to the inner harbour but the crew of the yacht were confident there was no damage.

Helm Jenny Kneale said it had been a fairly straightforward rescue but there could have been problems if the tide had been falling.