Dead men named as artist, brother-in-law

Two men found dead on a NSW beach have been named in media reports as artist Piers Dudley-Bateman and his brother-in-law Antonio Giner.

The bodies of the men were found at Birubi Beach, north of Newcastle, on Friday afternoon, along with a fuel tank and a dinghy believed to be from a yacht that left Broken Bay on Thursday.

It is a double tragedy for Mr Dudley-Bateman's sister, Annita Giner, who has lost her brother and her husband.

It is believed Mr Dudley-Bateman had been visiting his sister and her husband in Paterson before the two men set off on the yachting trip.

The men were in contact with family and friends until Thursday evening.

A friend told AAP he raised the alarm, contacting Marine Rescue NSW, early on Friday after being unable to reach his two friends, who were due to dock their yacht in Port Stephens before midday.

He had last made contact with the two experienced seamen, both aged in their 70s, early on Thursday night.

The bodies are not expected to be formally identified until Sunday or Monday.