A yacht washed onto rocks in Dublin Bay had to be rescued by the RNLI after it got stuck on Wednesday afternoon.

There were three women onboard the Beneteau 31.7 when the engine failed as they headed out of the fairway en route to Dun Laoghaire at around 3pm.

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Despite having a jib at the ready on deck, the group were on a lee shore and very close to a rock harbour breakwater known as Poole Bay Pier, for it to make any difference.

In a second attempt to save the yacht, the crew dropped their anchor but it was unable to take hold and the vessel washed broadside onto the rocks.

The all-weather lifeboat from Dun Laoghaire was requested shortly after and arrived on scene just before 4pm.

Two of the three crew clambered onto the boulders, while the third remained onboard as a pilot boat from Dublin port and a RIB from Irish customs stood by waiting for the RNLI.

Once on scene, an RNLI crewmember was placed on board and cut the anchor so the boat could be pulled off the rocks.

Coxswain Mark McGibney said: “Once we arrived we were able to get a line onto the boat on the port quarter, and after checking to make sure that the boat was not taking on water down below and the hull hadn’t been breached, we pulled the boat off the rocks to a safe distance and took her under proper tow and got her back into Dublin port.

“The boat was getting very badly thrown around and landing heavily on the rocks and boulders so a substantial amount of damage was done unfortunately.

“There were no injuries but they were a bit shaken up and a bit shocked.”