Search for missing yachtie called off

Police have called off the search for the skipper of a yacht found submerged in a treacherous stretch of ocean off the far north of the North Island.

An extensive search and rescue operation - which included land, sea and air searches - did not find the body of 77-year-old Malcolm Widdilove, a British resident whose boat was reported sunk on Wednesday evening.

Mr Widdilove was believed to have been on his way to Norfolk Island in his 7.6m, single hull, wooden yacht named Boadicea, Senior Constable Chris Yarnton, of Houhora police, said.

"The boat was not made for any sort of offshore sailing, especially in these areas up here."

Mr Widdilove was believed to have left from Opua marina, in the Bay of Islands, where he had been living on his yacht.

He did not notify the Coastguard of his trip, nor did he get clearance from customs and immigration to enter Australian waters, Mr Yarnton said.

"No one knew where he was going."

The boat was found sitting upright in about 10m of water - wedged in a rocky crevasse - near Tapotupotu Bay, Cape Reinga, when it was found by commercial divers.

They spotted it on Tuesday afternoon but did not report it until Wednesday evening.

Mr Widdilove's daughter was still holding onto hope that her father was still alive, Mr Yarnton said.

"She said that he's been in a few tight situations before but he's managed to get through them."

- NZPA