Peel Lifeboat has released details of a difficult rescue it carried out in poor conditions yesterday morning.
At around 11.30am the Ruby Clery went to the aid of a yacht which was in trouble 12 miles off Peel, in what Coxswain John Hunter described as some of the worst conditions he has ever sailed in.
South easterly winds were gusting at over 40mph.
The yacht, sailing from Stranraer to Douglas with two crew on board was caught in heavy seas when one of the crew was taken ill.
The lifeboat reached it in about an hour and with great difficulty managed to take the vessel in tow.
On reaching sheltered waters nearer Peel two of the RNLI volunteers were transferred to the yacht to help, eventually arriving back in Peel at 3.45pm.
Dr. John Snelling the Peel lifeboat medical officer saw to the casualty, who was very cold and wet.
After a check up and a change of clothes he was transferred to Noble's hospital for further checks.
The other crewman was also cold and wet but neither were in a life threatening condition.