Things have gone from bad to worse for salvagers trying to retrieve a damaged yacht off Taranaki.

New Caledonian father and daughter Daniel and Morgane Le Meur abandoned the Xiphos on Monday, after its engine had failed and its sails were shredded.

Coastguard spokesman Trevor Wood says the pair were part of a salvage attempt, which failed last night when a towrope broke twice.

He says the yacht's skipper has refused to leave his yacht a second time. Trevor Wood says they will assess their options when the salvage vessel returns to port.