Fears for missing yachtie

Authorities are continuing to search for a missing yachtie who failed to arrive in Gisborne as scheduled.

The Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington today launched an aerial search for the 11-metre yacht Tafadzwa, which left Tauranga on Friday morning.

The skipper was in the process of moving from Tauranga to Gisborne for work.

Search coordinator Keith Allen said the skipper called his partner on his cellphone about 1.30pm on Friday, but police were called when he failed to arrive at work yesterday.

A search plane equipped with radar and carrying three observers left Hamilton at 10.30am to search the coast and ocean off the East Cape between Tauranga and Gisborne.

Mr Allen said the search had since been narrowed to an area around the southern mouth of the Bay of Plenty.

If the yacht was not found before nightfall an air force Orion or Hercules would set out at first light to extend the search area, he said.

The skipper was an experienced sailor and the yacht was well equipped with an emergency locator beacon and flares.

The skipper had not responded to marine radio broadcasts but he may not have had his VHF radio switched on.

Mr Allen said there were concerns the yacht had been hit by the severe southerly storm which moved up the east coast on Friday night.

- NZPA