Tenby's inshore lifeboat was launched on Sunday after a surfer was reported in difficulties off Freshwater East.
Coastguards from St. Govan's were also alerted to the incident which occurred at approximately 12.30 pm.
A member of the public raised the alarm after observing a sailboard without anyone on board drifting about a mile out to sea.
Whilst the two rescue teams were en route to the scene, two canoeists also made their way towards the board, but every time they got near, the board kept drifting further away.
Once on scene, members of the coastguard unit spoke to a walker and two fishermen who had been watching the incident unfolding and they reported seeing a kite surfer being pulled into the water by the wind.
The surfer managed to release the sail from the harness and free himself from the board, which then drifted out to sea.
The ILB crew subsequently collected the board and returned it to its owner, who was from Pembroke.