A search for a yacht crewed by an Australian and Englishman reported to have run aground near Tonga has found a wreck but no sign of the pair.
Debris from the Navillus, wrecked off the island of Late, west of Vava'u, Tonga, on Thursday night, was found by searchers on Friday, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand said.
The yacht was sailing from the Caribbean to Bundaberg and the men, both aged in their 60s, used a satellite phone to call a relative in Victoria, Australia to say they had run aground and their yacht was breaking up.
An emergency locator beacon was activated at around 10.30pm on Thursday.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion was sent to the area on Friday morning and two local fishing boats searched the area.
"They have located the hull of the vessel, and seen a lot of debris," rescue co-ordinator Geoff Lunt said.
"The yacht's dinghy has been found, and an undeployed liferaft, as well as a number of lifejackets."
There are potential landing points on the island near to where the hull was found, and crew from one of the search vessels went ashore to inspect these, Mr Lunt said.
The Orion was due to land in Tonga at nightfall and the fishing boats have left the search area.
A search for the yachties will resume on Saturday.
"Survival time in the water is estimated at 36 hours and this would be extended if lifejackets were worn," Mr Lunt said.
Police in Victoria are coordinating contact with the next of kin.
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