NZ skipper absent as Iran seizes yacht crew

A New Zealander was preparing to skipper a yacht in an international race when the boat was seized by Iranian authorities in territorial waters.

Five British sailors on board Sail Bahrain's Kingdom of Bahrain were detained when it was stopped last Wednesday by Navy vessels.

The boat is believed to have inadvertently strayed off course when its propeller was damaged heading to the start of the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race.

It was first thought the boat turned back because of technical problems, but the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the crew had been taken captive by an Iranian patrol vessel.

It is understood they are safe in Iran and their families have been kept informed.

The boat's skipper, Nick Crabtree, co-director of the tourist yachting venture Sail Queenstown, which uses a former America's Cup 1992 boat for trips, was not on board at the time.

His wife, Claudine Crabtree, told the Otago Daily Times she was glad he was not on board and she hoped the others were home soon.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the ministry was "not aware of any New Zealanders being caught up in this situation but [was] making inquiries".

Kevin Mutch, manager of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club where the race began, said "everybody was in Muscat", including Mr Crabtree, but would not comment further.

Mr Crabtree, a Queenstown resident believed to be in his late 30s, had been in and out of Bahrain for the past six months getting ready for the race, a source said. He described the businessman as a "born and bred" Kiwi who grew up in Bucklands Beach.

There were concerns the crew would be accused of spying as Britain had long been accused of trying to undermine the Iranian regime.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said diplomats hoped to resolve the matter swiftly.

"FCO officials immediately contacted the Iranian authorities in London and in Tehran on the evening of November 25, both to seek clarification and to try and resolve the matter swiftly," he said.

"Our ambassador in Tehran has raised the issue with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and we have discussed the matter with the Iranian Embassy in London."

An FCO spokesman would not confirm the names of the sailors on board.