The stricken yacht Platino 550km north of New Zealand in June 2016. One crewman died on board, another was lost overboard. Three were rescued.
The stricken yacht Platino 550km north of New Zealand in June 2016. One crewman died on board, another was lost overboard. Three were rescued.
A friend of the man lost overboard from the yacht Platino nearly two years ago is criticising Maritime New Zealand over how long it is taking to publish its investigation findings.
Auckland boat builder Nick Saull was struck and killed by the 20m-long yacht's rigging in the tragedy which unfolded on June 13, 2016 some 550km north of New Zealand.
Auckland sailor Stephen Forno, 63, also of Auckland, was washed overboard and lost at sea. Crews in Air Force planes searched for him for two days, without success.
Nick Saull was struck and killed by Platino's rigging.
The multi-million-dollar yacht had suffered serious rigging damage in winds of up to 75km/h
The three other people on the boat - owners Victoria and Brent McKeogh and friend Ross McKee - were rescued by a container ship.
Platino survivors after being rescued by Captain Shashi Prakash (centre), of Southern Lily container ship and her crew, left to right: Victoria McKeogh, Ross McKee and Brent McKeogh. Photo / Facebook
The yacht had been due to take part in an Auckland to Fiji yacht race but had pulled out before the June 1 start.
The tugboat Sea Pelican towed Platino back to Whangarei in July 2016.
Maritime NZ said at the time that it would make inquiries to piece together what had happened. It would interview the survivors and inspect the yacht.
Ian Gardner is a superyacht captain based in the United States who grew up in Devonport, Auckland and sailed with his friend Forno.
He accused Maritime NZ of complacency because of how long it is taking to produce the findings of its investigation. He said others with an interest in safety at sea wanted to see the findings too.
"We want to know how it happened and what should or could have been done to avoid the catastrophe."
Maritime NZ spokesman Paul Fantham told the Herald that a "preventer" device can be used on a yacht to prevent a gybe of the main boom - a side-to-side swing - when running before the wind. However, the yacht was not actually running before the wind at the time of the incident; it was on a "broad reach", which is sailing at about 45 degrees from the wind direction.
"While it is not a specific legal requirement for a recreational yacht to have a preventer, Platino did have a preventer fitted. The functioning of the preventer is part of the investigation."
Fantham said the agency understood the need for its investigation to be completed in an expeditious way; however, it also needed to follow a thorough process.
A draft report has been given to interested parties.
"Some of the parties provided technical yachting comments on the draft. This involved obtaining independent expert advice and required discussion and follow-up with the interested parties about their comments.
"A final report is expected to be completed within about three months, depending on final comments and discussion with the interested parties."
The final report will be provided to the coroner who is investigating the deaths.
