Cowes RNLI Lifeboat was called to a 29-ft yacht that suffered an engine failure off Thorness.
A man and two women raised the alarm and teams launched the lifeboat at 5.18pm yesterday (Friday).
The sea was too deep to safely deploy the anchor,and the sails proved not too effective in the strong tide.
The pair were towed to Trinity Landing.
Ventnor's Coastguards also assisted.
The lifeboat returned to station at 7pm.