Updated:
A 22-foot yacht missing off the east coast of the North Island has been found by a Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter.
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand said the helicopter found the yacht Luna at 2.40pm yesterday, 16km south of Cape Runaway.
Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Mike Roberts said there is still no communication with the yacht but the helicopter made close passes and the yacht appeared undamaged and the 20-year-old skipper unharmed.
The skipper had arranged to telephone a friend daily but had not been heard from since Friday last week. A plane sent to search for the Luna found it tied up at Anaura Bay, apparently safe, but then nothing further was heard.
Mr Roberts said the helicopter refuelled at Whakatane then returned to Ohakea.
“Thankfully, the worst weather is now behind Luna and she should be in comfortable sailing conditions,” he said.
“We are glad for the outcome and we will always do what we can when a vessel is missing or in danger but this has been a frustrating endeavour.
“The skipper is inexperienced, left a vague trip plan, and seems to have had no working communications equipment since Friday last week. Even when two search aircraft located him he was unable to communicate his intentions or report on his condition.
“We want boaties to always leave a detailed trip plan with family, a friend or a boating organisation, and to take at least two forms of communications that will work when wet. A registered distress beacon is also highly recommended for all boats”.
Earlier:
THE Rescue Co-ordination Centre is seeking information about an overdue 22-foot yacht, the Luna.
Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Mike Roberts said Luna was last seen at Anaura Bay, north of Gisborne, at 4.15pm on Monday.
He said weather in the area was deteriorating, with 30 knot winds, rain and low cloud expected later today.
Mr Roberts said anyone who might have seen the yacht or had any information about where it might be should call the rescue centre on 0508 472269.
The Maritime Radio Service is broadcasting to all vessels in the area asking for sightings of the yacht and a Royal New Zealand Navy helicopter has been dispatched from Ohakea.
There is one person on board, a 20-year-old with, as far as is known, limited sailing experience.
Luna sailed from Napier on Friday morning headed to Auckland. Her skipper had told a friend he would call every 24 hours and made a cellphone call at 10.30pm on Friday. However, he was not heard from again.
Mr Roberts said a search by a fixed-wing aircraft found Luna anchored in Anaura Bay on Monday. The skipper waved to the aircraft and appeared unharmed, but made no other contact with the aircraft, or anyone else since.
It was believed the yacht had a VHF radio on board and the skipper had a cellphone. There was no record of a distress beacon being on board, he said.
“Our concern is this appears to be an inexperienced sailor heading into weather dangerous for a small boat and no one has heard from him,” Mr Roberts said.