KEY POINTS:
A 73-year-old German solo sailor is missing, presumed lost at sea, after his yacht was found drifting near Red Mercury off the eastern Coromandel coast.
A fishing boat is understood to have nearly run the yacht down at night last week.
One of its crew swam over to the yacht, the Motu, and found no one on board. The yacht's mainsail was furled and its topsail was torn to shreds and hanging in tatters.
A safety harness was hanging over the side.
The fishing boat notified authorities and towed the yacht initially to Red Mercury Island and then into Whitianga.
It is understood the man was on his way from Opua in the Bay of Islands to Noumea.
His last radio contact was on May 29 but it is possible he was sailing with another yacht whose crew may have seen him after that. Attempts are being made to contact that yacht.
Whitianga charter yacht operator Avon Hansford said Motu was lifted out of the water at the Whitianga Marina and inspected by police.
It appeared the yacht had capsized, Mr Hansford said.
"It looks like the boat was knocked down and he couldn't get back on board."
Motu was totally off-course and must have been blown way out east and south to have washed back up near Red Mercury, he said.
It is understood no search is being made for the missing sailor.
His daughter is reportedly on her way to New Zealand.
A police spokesman said the 9.5m yacht was believed to have left Opua 3 1/2 weeks ago.
"It missed radio schedules, and an all points alert has been issued to all boats in the area."
