Three UK sailors, two men and a woman, were rescued off the Wexford coast this afternoon after their 39–foot yacht got into difficulty.
The yacht sank quickly after a toilet fractured and it started taking on water in ten–foot swells off the Saltee Islands.
The yacht began to sink and a Mayday call was made after three o'clock.
The search and rescue helicopter from Waterford airport managed to take the crew from the water. Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat also attended.
According to RTE.ie news, the three crew were brought to Waterford airport and did not need to go to hospital.
An RNLI spokeswoman told Afloat.ie: 'Three onboard evacuated into life raft where they were rescued by Waterford Coast Guard Helicopter. Kilmore Quay RNLI went onboard to try and pump water off the yacht and recovered the liferaft'.