CREW members from a superyacht formerly owned by Roman Abramovich helped at a rescue off the Isle of Wight today.

Two crew from Le Grand Bleu, currently at anchor off Bembridge, assisted Bembridge RNLI after an injured member of crew was rescued from a sailing yacht.

It was the day of the Round the Island Yacht Race and, as previously reported by the County Press, the £135 million superyacht has been in prime position to take advantage of the spectacle.

Bembridge's RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) and RNLB Norman Harvey (D-778 Inshore Lifeboat) were launched this afternoon to assist a 29ft sailing yacht located 1nm north east of Bembridge.

A spokesperson said: "After a quiet day with no taskings, both boats had just completed being washed down and rehoused when the Norman Harvey was requested at 4.09pm by UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist a 29ft Westerly Konsort sailing yacht that had been competing in the race with three crew onboard and had issued a DSC Mayday Alert after the skipper had probably dislocated his shoulder and was obviously in considerable pain.

"It did not take the Norman Harvey long to reach the yacht and having assessed the casualty, they requested the Alfred Albert Williams be launched to provide back up support.

"Once close by, two crew and the Entenox cylinder were transferred to the yacht by Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat who were also on scene.

"Having made the casualty as comfortable as possible, the Norman Harvey then escorted the yacht into Bembridge Harbour where they were met by the local Coastguard Rescue Team and after a few minutes an ambulance."

The superyacht crew had transferred by one of her RIBs to the yacht, and helped drop the yachts sails.