POLICE have rescued four men after they became trapped in rough weather while sailing off Victoria’'s south coast Saturday night.

The men activated an EPIRB distress beacon about 8.30pm last night as they battled estimated winds up to 50 knots, police said.

Police reached the men about 80 nautical miles from Wilson’s Promontory near Seal Island this morning.

They returned to Port Welshpool about 1pm.

A police spokeswoman said the men, from Melbourne and East Gippsland, suffered minor injuries.