Spotters find no trace of missing Marlborough boatie

William Kerry Blair (C)

A plane carrying three search and rescue spotters has found no trace of a Marlborough boatie who disappeared four days ago.

William Kerry Blair, 55, was last seen near Cape Jackson on his launch Erie about 5.30pm on Saturday.

The aerial search covered the coastline from Nelson to Westport yesterday afternoon and evening, police said.

Police today were looking into information they had just received about a sighting of the launch on Monday.

They were also checking marinas, and regular broadcasts were continuing to go out to all vessels on the marine radio asking for sightings of the boat.

Anyone with information about the movements of the nine-metre Senator aluminium launch, which was white and had a blue stripe along the side, was asked to contact police.

Mr Blair's brother Peter told APNZ the searches had so far not revealed any positive information.

All boats and freight vessels around the Marlborough Sounds and along the West Coast were also keeping an eye out for Mr Blair, who did not tell anyone what he planned to do before taking his boat out.

Police said it was out of character for Mr Blair to leave without letting anyone know where he was going.

Search co-ordinator Sergeant Bill Talbot said yesterday that without any indication of Mr Blair's intentions, the potential search area was enormous.

"We don't know if he has been motoring and if so what direction, or drifting, or whether the boat has gone down. Right now it's a needle in a haystack."