KEY POINTS:
The decision on whether to salvage an abandoned yacht found drifting off the Northland coast yesterday lies with its insurers, the vessel's owner said today.
The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) said the Air Apparent was found yesterday, upright and drifting with its mast intact and its sail dragging in the water, about 210 nautical miles (389km) off North Cape.
The 7.9m sloop was abandoned in poor weather off the Kaipara coast on March 25, after its crew set off their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) against the wishes of the skipper.
RCCNZ launched a rescue after picking up the emergency signal and the crew and skipper of the vessel were all safely recovered.
Bill Heritage, the skipper who says he lost his yacht after the crew panicked and mutinied, told NZPA today it would be the insurance company's decision on whether or not the boat was salvaged.
He said after initially refusing his claim, the insurance company had since paid out.
"It's really their decision. But I think the chances are very, very small, as it's a fair way off the coast."
Mr Heritage said shortly after the yacht was abandoned that there was nothing structurally wrong with it when they hit three metre waves and 25-30 knot winds as they headed from Auckland to Nelson.
He said when the battery died the motor would not start on the hand crank and the crew panicked, setting off the emergency beacon.
"It does go to show the yacht wasn't going to sink under us at the time," he said today.
RCCNZ search and rescue officer Chris Wilson said a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion on patrol from Whenuapai had located the abandoned yacht around 12.30pm yesterday.
- NZPA
