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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
A missing yachtsman whose vessel was found idling off the Bay of Plenty coast 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 this morning.
It has sparked an air and sea search for Richard Rusbatch, a 56-year-old charter boat operator from Russell who is missing from the yacht.
Fred Jeanes has 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 onboard, 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."
Motor running, anchor dragging
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."
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre undertook an aerial search today. A fixed wing aircraft and helicopter covered a 900 square kilometre area between Motiti and Mayor Islands, twice with no sign of the missing yachtsman.
A sea search was also made, involving Coastguard and a vessel that has been working on the Rena operation.
The search continued until dark and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre said it would be reviewed overnight to determine whether it should be widened further.
Inquiries are also continuing to determine whether an unnamed dinghy found by police last night may have come from the missing yacht, the centre said.
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 has been towed to Tauranga Harbour.
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