Stricken yacht remains missing at sea

The stricken Morning Star. Photo/Supplied

A yacht missing at sea may never be found, after the revelation the locator beacon transmitting its position is no longer with the boat.

Two men who had planned to travel from Opua to the Marlborough Sounds were winched to safety in Bay of Plenty waters on Sunday morning after their 43ft ketch Morning Star had taken on water.

The men were rescued after their emergency beacon gave off their position at 74 nautical miles off the Tauranga coast.

However, the beacon appears to have been lost in the rescue.

Maritime New Zealand spokesman Steve Rendle said the skipper had removed the beacon from the yacht.

"In the process of going from the yacht to the helicopter the beacon has fallen into the water," Mr Rendle said. "The beacon is still transmitting, but it's not on the yacht."

Mr Rendle said it was not known where the yacht was now, or even if it was still above water.

The vessel was part way through its journey when Maritime Radio reported a call at 2.30am on Friday that its engine had broken down 20 nautical miles (37km) east of White Island.

But Mr Rendle said that at 4.10am on Sunday, the pair sent out a mayday call after the vessel started taking on water and they found their pumps unable to cope.

Mr Rendle said the yacht's locator beacon was yesterday giving its position as about 47 nautical miles (87km) north of White Island.