Sailors returning without crewman

Rex Fearon. Photo / Supplied

The yacht Wild Goose is making the two-week journey from Rarotongan waters to New Zealand without Kiwi crew member Rex Fearon.

An extensive search was called off 24 hours after Mr Fearon, 41, fell overboard from the 14m yacht on Thursday.

The two remaining crew members, who tried to rescue him after he fell, will continue without him to Opua, Northland, where an investigation will begin.

Sarah Brazil of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre said details were sketchy about how Mr Fearon fell overboard because the yacht had only VHF radio which made communication difficult.

Mr Fearon's family had visited the rescue centre and were briefed about the search effort, which covered nearly 400sq km.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion, the container ship Forum Pacific and a French naval aircraft searched widely after the crew of Wild Goose had been unable to find him.

Although the water was relatively warm at 23C and visibility was good Mr Fearon had little chance of surviving beyond 24 hours. He was not wearing a life jacket.

- NZPA