Crews on board three racing yachts in the Mini Fastnet race were rescued on Thursday night when their vessels became dismasted in high winds fifty miles off Scilly.
The St Mary’s lifeboat towed a Swiss Minuscopic into Scilly, whilst two others, believed to be German and French, were aided by race escort vessels.
The boats were damaged in 25-knot (29mph) winds south west of the Islands during the French-organised race, which began in Brittany and features more than 80 entrants from around Europe.
Coastguards in Cornwall led the rescue of the yachts.