Yacht " Tafadzwa " Found

[MMNETSEA]

Sea search for missing yacht underway between Tauranga and Gisbourne

CLICK REPORT STORY

[MMNETSEA]

Latest news on Tafadzwa missing :-CLICK

[MMNETSEA]

Wonder if the Boat has Rhodesian connections? The name Tafadzwa means 'We were happy'

[MMNETSEA]

Updated at 3:57pm NZ on 17 March 2010

An extra plane has been added to the search for a sailor missing off the North Island's East Coast.

The Rescue Co-ordination Centre has confirmed the sailor is Paul van Rensburg, who was reported missing on Monday after he failed to arrive in Gisborne as expected.

His 11-metre steel vessel Tafadzwa left Tauranga on Friday.

The centre's search and rescue mission co-ordinator, Keith Allen, described Mr van Rensburg as an experienced sailor.

He says the centre is developing plans for further searches on Thursday.

(Small world: I know the van Rensburg family from Rhodesia - recognized the Boat name)

[MMNETSEA]

Staff at the Rescue Co-ordination Centre will work overnight plotting a strategy in their search for a missing yachtsman.

Paul van Rensburg and his vessel Tafadzwa were reported missing on Monday after failing to arrive in Gisborne as expected.

Two full days of searching by an Air Force Orion and a twin-engine plane have failed to find any sign of Mr van Rensburg or his yacht.

Centre co-ordinator Keith Allen says the search has covered 150,000 square kilometres, from the Mercury Islands to Gisborne.

Mr Allen says the Orion will resume searching on Thursday, and is expected to focus north of areas searched in the past two days.

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Paul van Rensburg

[MMNETSEA]

Updated at 10:36am (NZ time) on 18 March 2010

A seach for a missing yachtsman was to focus today Thursday on the area to the north of the stretch of ocean searched in the past two days.

A helicopter has joined the Air Force Orion in the search.

Paul van Rensburg and his vessel Tafadzwa were reported missing on Monday after failing to arrive in Gisborne as expected.

Two full days of searching by the Orion and a twin-engine plane have failed to find any sign of Mr van Rensburg or his yacht.

Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Keith Allen says the search has covered 150,000 square kilometres, from the Mercury Islands to Gisborne.

[angelina]

Update Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:34:10 GMT

Wellington - An extensive aerial search for a South African yachtsman missing for a week on a voyage up the east coast of New Zealand's North Island was called off Friday, after no trace of him was found. Paul Janse van Rensburg, 40, has not been seen since he sailed on March 12 for Gisborne from the port of Tauranga in his 11-metre, steel-hulled yacht Tafadzwa. Dave Wilson of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand said a New Zealand Air Force maritime surveillance aircraft and three other planes had covered 328,000 square kilometres of ocean in three days of searching without success. He said weather conditions had been excellent: "We are confident that had the yacht been in the search area, we would have found it."Wilson said the search would not be resumed unless there was fresh information.

[MMNETSEA]

New Web site set up to help find Paul :- Visit Website

[canuckiwis]

The yacht has been sighted 60nm west of the Chatham Islands, which is 600km east of mainland nz; a fishing boat has been diverted to her and should get there soon.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by canuckiwis' date='28 March 2010 - 10:11 AM

The yacht has been sighted 60nm west of the Chatham Islands, which is 600km east of mainland nz; a fishing boat has been diverted to her and should get there soon.

Let's pray that he is OK.

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by canuckiwis' date='28 March 2010 - 03:11 PM

The yacht has been sighted 60nm west of the Chatham Islands, which is 600km east of mainland nz; a fishing boat has been diverted to her and should get there soon.

Tafdzwa found CLICK

[Lighthouse]

Friends of missing yachtie Paul Janse van Rensburg are "shattered" that a search of his yacht this morning failed to find any sign of him.

Rescuers boarded the missing boatie's yacht this morning to find his life raft, and dog - still alive - but no missing sailor.

Mr Janse van Rensburg's 11m yacht Tafadzwa was found adrift after 16 days, near the Chatham Islands with its damaged sails still up. Two men from a fishing vessel boarded the yacht at 8am this morning.

FULL STORY

Very sad indeed.

[MMNETSEA]

Another news report :-

CLICK

[Festina]

This is the logic of the Maritime New Zealand. This is part of an article covering the loss of this Sailor. Found in 'The Dominion', Wellingtons morning newspaper

Dated 30/03/10.

Quote; Maritime New Zealand has rejected criticism that its three day search- which covered 328,000 square kilometres- was called off too soon.

Spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst said it used a computer program to map tides, wind and currents and predict the location of a drifting object. The problem is that the vessel was under sail. It had sailed out of the search area.

It was extremely diffircult to spot humans floating in the water. The decision was peer reveiwed by senior staff and signed off by Maritime NZ director Catherine Taylor. A debrief would be held on the search Ms Hazelhurst said.

Maritime NZ had not decided whether to investigate Mr Van Rensburgs disappearance.

The organisation would not send anyone to the Chathams to inspect the yacht but has sent local police a list of questions.

I posted this to ask the question does MNZ assume all boats in trouble will be a drifting object, or are we supposed to be in a certain place thats convienant and easy to find.

Was it finances that dictated the search didnt continue. or was it just another yachtie. I realise NZ has alot of coast line and not calm all the time. However family suggested that he could have sailed further away on his journey. On a search whats another 50,000 sq km. a days flying? a life in future searches.

I know i sound sinical I am. I have been on the outside of a couple of dealings with this organisation. They need to move away from their desks and computers, Educate themslves again, look out the windows and see the real world. Its not a game.

Just lately I posted a question about Inflatable Lifejackets and Safety lines on the unit and if are they safe. Im buying one, then this happens I get the message.

How many sailors have a method to get back on board if the worst happens, With yourself tethered to the yacht hanging over the side. How many could pull themselves back on board? with the yacht still on auto, sailing and the crew down below.

All Cruisers out there. Beware, Be prepared, Be vigilant, and above all learn to protect yourselves the best way you can. And for Gods sake be careful out there!!!

Above all dont forget to enjoy!!!!