Five boaters rescued near Bateman's Bay

Five people have been winched to safety after clinging to their upturned boat for three hours off the NSW South Coast.

The group set off an emergency beacon at about 8.30am on Christmas Day after their boat began taking on water and then capsized north of Bateman's Bay.

Rescue officers located the group about three nautical miles offshore and whisked the five into the safety of a helicopter at about 11.30am.