Bodies found during NSW boat search

The bodies of two men have washed up on a beach north of Newcastle, as police continue to search for a boat that disappeared while travelling to Port Stephens.

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

A man, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted Marine Rescue NSW about 7.30am on Friday after being unable to reach his two middle-aged friends due to dock their yacht in Port Stephens before midday.

"There was no sign of it," he told AAP.

He last made contact with the two experienced sailors early on Thursday night.

Police had been searching for the yacht after concerns were expressed by family members of the crew.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology said gale force winds in the area, over 30 knots, would have produced significantly rough seas.

"Last night was not the best night to be out on the sea, unfortunately," he said.

Authorities are at the beach where the bodies were found as more police officers head to the area from Newcastle.

The bodies are yet to be formally identified and the vessel has not been found.