Three yachtsmen were airlifted to safety from the deck of their pitching yacht as the craft was crippled 150 miles west of the Hebrides in gale force winds.

Clyde Coastguard was alerted by the Norwegian Coastguard after a fishing vessel picked up a Mayday on the VHF.

The 10m Irish yacht Dilish had lost its sails in the blow and the engine was put out of action after ‘dirty diesel’ got in the fuel line.

The yachtsmen were landed safely in Stornoway. The yacht is being towed to Alesund in Norway.