A seven-metre yacht with engine failure and torn sails, and two of her crew of three suffering from sea sickness, was towed to safety by RNLI Angle's all-weather lifeboat on Monday.

The Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason was launched at 4.15 pm to go to the aid of the yacht, which was about three miles north-west of Skomer Island and on passage from Fishguard to Neyland.

The Pembroke Dock-Rosslare ferry had diverted from its passage towards Ireland and was on the scene relaying communications between the Coastguard and casualty and acting as a lee. A RIB had also arrived and was standing by.

When the lifeboat reached the scene at 4.42 pm, the ferry was released and continued her voyage to Rosslare.

Due to the sea conditions, the RIB transferred two lifeboat crew members to the yacht to assess the situation and it was decided to evacuate two of the yacht's crew to the lifeboat.

A tow was then connected and the lifeboat brought the casualty to Neyland Marina at 7.50 pm.

At the entrance to the marina, the yacht managed to restart her engine and made her own way in to moor safely alongside the pontoon. The lifeboat transferred the yacht's two crew members back to their vessel and recovered the two lifeboat volunteers.

The lifeboat was then released to return to her station, where she was rehoused at.8.40 pm after nearly four-and-a-half hours at sea.