A search is underway for a sailor who went overboard from the yacht Platino. The man was lost around 300 nautical miles north of New Zealand.
One man is dead and another one has been lost overboard after strong winds damaged the rigging of the yacht, Platino.
Staff at the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand are now co-ordinating the search for the sailor, who is in his 60s.
He was knocked overboard around 300 nautical miles north of New Zealand at 11.30am on 13 June.
The 20 metre Platino suffered serious rigging damage in winds of up to 40 knots.
Three other people are on board the yacht, which is in contact with the centre via satellite phone.
The search and rescue mission coordinator, Keith Allen, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion, that was already operating in the area, was on the scene within 90 minutes of the incident.
A commercial fishing vessel is also heading to the area to help in the search.
A second Orion has since replaced the first aircraft and will continue searching until nightfall.
The search area is out of range of all but fixed wing aircraft.
“Sea conditions are extremely dangerous and the remaining crew on board the Platino have advised that it is too hazardous to be on deck,” said Allen.
“With limited ability to manoeuvre safely, the yacht is motoring to New Zealand, but this could take at least two days. The fishing boat is expecting to be at the scene by around 7pm but it will not be possible to search in darkness,” he added.
The Platino had been entered into the ANZ Sail Fiji race. Competitors sail 1,100 nautical miles from Auckland to Port Denarau in Fiji.
The yacht was due to start on 1 June in the cruising class.
The rally organiser, the Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC), has since confirmed that the Platino did not start the race.
“From the ANZ Sail Fiji organising committee we send our sincere condolences to the families involved,” said the RAYC Vice Commodore, Sally Garrett.
“As Suellen Hurling, our Yachting & Communications Manager, said to me awhile ago, “this is the bad part of our sport, people die,” she said.
Garrett continued: “For ANZ Sail Fiji, the safety of our sailors is our number one priority, and that is why we strive to ensure that all boats meet the best practice standards of training and equipment.”
“Behind the scenes we make sure we have the best processes in place including the Yellow Brick Tracker and 24 hour support to the fleet. It is this very type of scenario that Platino is in that we dread, we fear, and we do our very best to guard against,” stated Garrett.
“The reporters that have called, have all asked who the boat is being monitored by, and sadly, unlike our fleet there is no group watching the tracker 24/7 and answering the phone through the night,” she said.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand has said that if required, searching for the missing sailor will continue at first light tomorrow.
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