Search for missing yacht suspended

Rescue services last night suspended an aerial search for a missing trimaran that has not been heard from since it set off from Nelson for Rarotonga five weeks ago.
An Air Force crew had been carrying out an extensive two-day search over 370,000 sq km of ocean around the Kermedec Islands for the 12.6m vessel Manoah, which is more than two weeks overdue.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre NZ mission co-ordinator Dave Wilson said the area was the most likely location of the yacht had it been disabled by storms that passed through the South Pacific in mid-June

"The search will continue, however, with vessels passing through the area being asked to keep a look out...and we will continue to broadcast messages in the hope that they will be picked up by the vessel."

He said the situation would be reviewed should they receive further information.

Manoah has not been seen since Australian skipper Gary Cull and his Nelson partner Verona Hunt set sail from Nelson on June 8.

It was last heard from on June 9 when they sent a text message from the trimaran somewhere off Wellington.

Radio appeals to the missing pair had drawn no response.

Earlier reports said Manoah had a short-range VHF transceiver aboard, as well as a long-range high frequency radio receiver, which meant Mr Cull and Ms Hunt could have heard the messages, but had no way to respond.

"It is possible that Manoah is still making its way to Rarotonga, but has been delayed for some reason and is making slower passage than anticipated," Mr Wilson said.

"Clearly though, everyone is now very concerned for their safety."

During the past 17 days, the centre has been conducting an extensive communications search and gathering information in the hope of finding some clues as to the trimaran's whereabouts.

This has included broadcasting information throughout the search and rescue region in case anyone sees Manoah, and liaising with rescue authorities in Australia, Fiji and other Pacific islands.

Earlier this week, Nelson man Mark Boyle, a yachtie and friend of Ms Hunt and Mr Cull, said the couple had been together for about six months and were going to Rarotonga for a holiday.

Mr Cull built Manoah and sailed it solo to New Zealand from Sydney, he said.

Ms Hunt, who has two teenage daughters in Australia, was not an experienced yachtie but was learning fast.

Mr Boyle said the boat was well built, with an "incredibly strong hull", which he believed would still be floating even if it was hit by a large wave.

He said Mr Cull was a responsible and competent yachtie.

"He built everything on the boat, and it was one of the best boats I've ever seen."

- NZPA