The Coastguard alerted two boats to the scene

No-one was injured in the incident, but lifeboat officials have warned holidaymakers to be aware of changing weather conditions.

The coastguard said the three-to-four knot wind caught both children and adults out in Aberystwyth.

The rescue service was alerted at 1430 BST on Thursday by a man sunbathing on the beach.

People should be aware of the dangers before setting out in a dinghy Coastguard spokesman

A coastguard spokesman said: "The man told us that a dinghy appeared to be in trouble and we alerted the in-shore lifeboat and the coastguard in the town.

"While en route, we received another call from the same man saying another dinghy appeared to be in trouble.

"Over the next two hours the service rescued 11 people and escorted another six in their dinghies to the shore."

He added: "Both adults and children were caught out by the off-shore wind and all were told about the dangers of going out in a dinghy when the wind is quite high.

"Although it was only three-to-four knots, dinghies are only light and within a few minutes people can be too far out.

"During the summer these sort of incidents make up a large amount of our call-outs and people should be aware of the dangers before setting out in a dinghy."

Meanwhile, down the coast at New Quay, a lifeboat donated to the RNLI by American Audrey Lawson Johnston had its first call-out on Thursday night.

Launched on 7 May by the 89-year-old survivor of the World War I sinking of the Lusitania, the 16ft lifeboat called Amy Lea, after Mrs Lawson-Johnston's mother, towed a 15ft cruiser to safety after its engine failed.