Race distress beacon accidentally set off

A distress beacon activated by a yacht on the Sydney to Hobart was set off accidentally.

Race organisers responded to the 9:10am (AEDT) alert near the coastal town of Narooma and contacted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

A lifesaver helicopter was deployed, but organisers later confirmed all crew members were safe and the boat was still racing.

Earlier, search and rescue workers were confident no one was in danger given the absence of a mayday call.

"They're not answering their phone or radio," Westpac Life Save Rescue Helicopter CEO Stephen Leahy told AAP on Sunday morning.

"We've gone out to check on the welfare of the yacht, we are on the scene at the moment."

It is common for yachts to lose radio reception in the area.