A MOTOR yacht with three people on board sparked a major rescue operation involving three RNLI lifeboats in the Bristol Channel on Sunday afternoon.

The crew of the 25-foot vessel put out a Mayday call reporting its engine had failed and it was taking on water just before 2pm while en route from Penarth to Ilfracombe.

Both Minehead’s lifeboats were launched and the volunteer crew quickly located the yacht in St Audries Bay, east of Watchet. They were joined on scene by a coastguard helicopter.

Helmsman Andrew Escott said the yacht was completely disabled.

“When they realised they had been taking in water they tried to make it into Watchet marina but going against the tide the engine overheated,” he said.

The two Minehead boats were eventually joined by Barry Dock lifeboat which took the yacht in tow back to Penarth.