Seventeen people were rescued by coastguards after the engine of the yacht in which they were sailing failed three miles off the Co Down coast.
Lifeguards from Donaghadee and Bangor went to aid the crew, and the vessel, Lord Rank, was towed safely into Bangor harbour.
Ms Judith McNiece, a coastguard officer, said they were not in danger. "But, with it being an Ocean Youth Club vessel, there were some inexperienced crew on board," she added.