The crew of a yacht have thanked the team that came to their aid after their vessel broke down in treacherous seas in darkness and the skipper was injured.

Weymouth Lifeboat received a call from Solent Coastguard at just after 6.30pm on Saturday evening to assist a 32ft sloop yacht off Portland Bill with two people on board.

READ MORE: Yacht crewman injured off Portland Bill lighthouse

The RNLI said the vessel, which was on route from Salcombe to Poole, had reportedly suffered engine failure before losing its foresail while in the Race off Portland Bill.

The tidal flow off Portland Bill, known as the Race, can be treacherous for sailors.

As the skipper went to fix the foresail, they slipped on deck injuring their back.

Weymouth Lifeboat was launched and towed the yacht into Weymouth Harbour, arriving at 8.50pm where they were met by South Western Ambulance and coastguard crews.

The volunteer lifeboat crew stood down at 9.55pm. 

Dorset Echo:

The RNLI said the people involved visited the Weymouth Lifeboat Station earlier today "safe and well" to thank the team for their efforts - as well as giving them a donation. 

A spokesperson for the Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team said: "We were tasked at 8.15pm to meet Weymouth Lifeboat in Weymouth Harbour.

"They had towed a yacht from a position close to Portland Bill light after a crewman suffered an injury.

"Wyke secured the vessel alongside, and provided casualty care and shelter until a South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust arrived on the scene."