A 73 year old German Skipper feared dead

Posted on June 25^th 2008

A 73-year-old skipper is presumed dead after his 9.5 metre yacht, “Motu” was almost hit by a passing fishing boat off the North Island of New Zealand.

A crewmember from the fishing boat swam over to the yacht to find there was no one aboard the yacht. Apparently the yachts mainsail, topsail were badly damaged.

A safety harness was found hanging over the side of the yacht, which has led, the authorities to believe the yacht capsized, with the sailor going overboard and being unable to climb back on board.

The yacht, which was found floating near Red Mercury off the eastern Coromandel Coast was towed to Whitianga where police inspected it, after the yacht was removed from the water.

The 73-year-old German sailor is thought to have last made contact 4 weeks ago, on May 29, on route from Opua in the Bay of Islands to Nourmea.

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