KEY POINTS:
The family of a Nelson woman presumed drowned when the yacht she was on capsized on its way to the Cook Islands says a long-range radio could have saved her.
The 12.6 metre trimaran Manoah left Nelson on June 8, 2005 for Rarotonga with Verona Hunt and her Australian partner Gary Cull on board, but was never heard from again.
When it was deemed overdue, a massive sea search was launched but failed to find any sign of the yacht or missing crew.
It was revealed this week that the Manoah was found earlier this month on a small island in the Tonga group of islands, with a chilling cry for help on the hull.
"Help 2 p.o.b" was written in white paint on the blue hull, indicating two people were on board, Tonga's acting police commander said.
Taiela Faletau said police suspected the yacht had capsized and that its two occupants were at first still alive, inside the hull.
"We don't actually have any clue as to what happened after that."
Nelson coroner Ian Smith last week ruled the couple accidentally drowned and warned that foreign-flagged yachts may not be up to New Zealand safety standards.
Maritime New Zealand said the couple would have been vulnerable to being washed overboard, as there were no lifelines around the Manoah.
But Ms Hunt's family visited the yacht before it left and said it did have lifelines, "and Verona promised to always wear one."
The family said had they had a long-range radio they could have survived.
"The radio service is monitored at a pre-arranged time each day and is free of cost. If the sailors do not make contact then the service immediately want to know what has happened. We can only be sad they didn't have one," the family said in a statement.
"New Zealand-registered vessels by law have to have such a radio. It is overseas vessels like the Manoah, registered in Australia, which make their own choice.
"This, in our opinion, led to the loss of our wonderful daughter, mother, sister and friend."
Mr Cull built and registered the wooden yacht in Australia.
He sailed it to New Zealand in February 2004, where he began a relationship with Ms Hunt.
On June 9 2005, an acquaintance of the couple received a text message saying they were sailing off Wellington, headed for Rarotonga. It was their last communication.
Ms Hunt's family today thanked their extended family, friends and search and rescue teams for their support over the past 20 months.
- NZPA
