Steve Forno with family sisters Viv Widdison, Lynn Wilson, Claire Forno and mother Lilly Forno. Photo/ supplied
Steve Forno with family sisters Viv Widdison, Lynn Wilson, Claire Forno and mother Lilly Forno. Photo/ supplied
A family is in disbelief their loved one had been knocked overboard and left to die.
Steve Forno's family have spoken out about the "distressing" findings in Maritime New Zealand's report revealing everything that wasn't done to save him.
Forno was one of two men who died when their yacht struck 4m waves in the ocean north of New Zealand two years ago.
Nick Saull was killed on board when hit by rigging on the yacht's boom. Forno was thrown overboard and never found.
The three other crew, Tory and Harry McKeogh and Ross McKee, were rescued by a container ship.
The report found the owners took very few steps to ensure the crew members were properly prepared for any emergency situation.
"They assumed that the crew all possessed the required expertise to effectively use the equipment onboard and respond to an emergency." the report said.
Forno's sister Claire Forno said the owners came to see them when they returned to New Zealand.
"They told us they had done nothing to help him and the whole room just started wailing.
"They said they were too busy trying to save themselves. They thought the boat would kill them," Claire Forno said.
The family said this was just the tip of the iceberg.
"It wasn't until Maritime did the investigation the family found out how little had been done to save Steve."
The report said the crew were not able to intentionally manoeuvre the yacht back to the crew member in the water to affect a rescue.
"Despite this, it appears possible that actions could have been taken which may have significantly increased the chance of the crew member lost overboard being rescued," the report said.
The Southern Lily container ship that came to rescue crew members of stricken yacht Platino. Photo / NZDF
Forno's brother-in-law Dean Watson said if the right safety measures were taken Forno would have had more of a chance of survival.
In response to the report, Maritime NZ is making changes to safety requirements for recreational vessels leaving New Zealand ports for overseas, and for other recreational vessels in New Zealand waters.
Maritime NZ director, Keith Manch, said work was already under way with Yachting NZ to change Yachting NZ's Safety Regulations of Sailing that are used for safety inspections of all recreational vessels – sailing or powered – bound for overseas.
