Emergency services have been trying to rescue the skipper of a yacht which got into trouble in the middle of the night south west of Tiree.
The man made sounded the alarm just after midnight after his 40ft boat hit rocks near the Skerryvore lighthouse.The coastguard helicopter from Prestwick was dispatched, and kept watch on the vessel for several hours before having to head back to base to refuel.
But by that time the Islay RNLI lifeboat had arrived.
However crew members were unable to attach a tow rope to the boat because of the weather conditions which the coastguard described as "very challenging".
So now the search and rescue helicopter is returning to the scene with a view to airlifting the yachtsman to safety.
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