Australian ocean rescue mission underway for two sailors on damaged yacht

A rescue mission to retrieve two crew members from their damaged boat in the Tasman sea is underway. Photo / Supplied

A major operation is underway to rescue two sailors after their damaged boat, Aviva, began taking in water in the Tasman Sea.

The two men in their 70s were believed to be sailing from New Zealand to Australia.

Multiple Royal Air Force airplanes joined the search for the men after an emergency locator beacon was activated about 5am local time yesterday.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the 14.2m sailing vessel was around 305km east of Australia's Lord Howe Island.

A family member told the authority the boat's steering had been damaged and it had begun taking on water following severe weather, including 10m waves and high winds.

According to the MarineTraffic website, Aviva left Whangārei on August 27.

AMSA has sent its Melbourne-based challenger rescue aircraft along with multiple Royal Australian Air Force aircraft which have been overhead since yesterday.

Two merchant vessels were also en route but were not expected to reach the area until this afternoon and evening, AMSA said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales police said the police vessel Nemesis was en route to the boat.

"There are believed to be two men aged in their 70s onboard and police have been told they were travelling from NZ to Australia."

*An earlier version of this story said the crew members were New Zealanders. This was based on incorrect information supplied by AMSA.