High sea swells have hampered the search for two missing yachtsmen on a remote, uninhabited Tongan island.

The Australian and Englishman - who also holds Australian citizenship - have been missing since Thursday night when their yacht, Navillus, was wrecked off the island of Late, west of Vava'u, Tonga.

Air and sea searches on Friday found wreckage from the yacht, including an un-deployed life raft.

It is hoped the men may have made it to shore on Late Island, where searchers checked landing points on Friday, but they have since been unable to carry out a more thorough search.

A planned search was delayed on Sunday, with issues finding a vessel to carry local searchers to the island.

Once a boat was found, high sea swells prevented it reaching Late, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said.

RCCNZ has arranged for two vessels to search at first light on Monday.

The men, aged in their 60s, had called a relative in Victoria, Australia, via satellite phone to say their yacht had run aground and was breaking up.