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The Honfleur where it was found 11 nautical miles east of Mayor Island and Richard Rusbatch, believed missing from the yacht - Source: Supplied -
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There is still no sign of a missing yachtsman whose vessel was found idling off the Bay of Plenty coast, despite an extensive search today.
Richard Rusbatch was returning to the Bay of Islands after sailing with four Russians to Tauranga, according to a man who spoke to him.
The 38 foot, single-masted yacht, Honfleur, was located by a member of the public approximately 11 nautical miles east of Mayor Island yesterday morning, with its motor running and anchor dragging in the water.
It sparked an air and sea search for the 56-year-old charter boat operator from Russell.
The Rescue Coordination Centre says an extensive search for the missing man is being carried out involving search and rescue teams on land and Coastguard combing the shoreline.
Rescuers searched around 900 square kilometres of water yesterday, before calling off the hunt at sunset.
Maritime New Zealand said Tauranga Coastguard took a land search and rescue team to Mayor Island to search the coastline on foot at first light today, and the Coastguard vessel conducted a further shoreline search.
Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Mike Roberts said evidence shows that it is likely Rusbatch was intending to anchor off Mayor Island in an area called Honeymoon Bay.
Weather conditions today were favourable, he said.
Fred Jeanes told ONE News he was on duty at the Tauranga Bridge Marina on Sunday when Rusbatch came to pay his bill, and they got talking while he was cleaning his yacht.
"He took the charter up in the Bay of Islands and sailed down to Tauranga, calling into I think it was Great Barrier and Mayor Island and then into Tauranga," Jeanes said.
"The Russians got off in Tauranga and they were heading off further. I think they were going to White Island and then heading to Wellington."
Police said they believed the yacht, with only one person on-board, left Tauranga for Paihia last Sunday, February 12.
Jeanes confirmed this, saying the yacht left on the high tide that day.
He said he and Rusbatch spoke about the conditions being a bit choppy because there was a north east breeze blowing.
"So it wouldn't have been a flat trip, that's for sure."
However, Jeanes said Rusbatch was a very capable skipper.
"When you're a charter skipper you're very, very capable and he's done many, many miles that I'm aware of."
Anchor may have fallen over side
Police said the motor was running and the yacht's anchor was dragging in the water when it was found.
Jeanes said he believes the anchor would have come loose and fallen over the side accidentally if the yacht was motoring in choppy seas.
"He wouldn't be stopping to fish, I wouldn't think. And I don't think there'd be anything from the Rena in that area.
"If it hits the bottom and he's unaware of it, then the anchor grabs, certainly it would swing the boat around. It could do anything, but he's in quite deep water out there."
Jeanes said he thinks Rusbatch was very well known in Russell because they spoke of many people they both knew in the area.
"I think a lot of people will be shocked that something like this has happened to a person who is a pretty competent charter skipper," Jeanes said.
The Honfleur was towed to Tauranga Harbour yesterday.
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