The search for a yacht missing off the East Coast has been suspended after three days of searching failed to find Paul Van Rensburg, or his 11 metre sloop Tafadzwa.
Paul left Tauranga for Gisborne a week ago and was reported overdue on Monday.

Paul Van Rensburg.

An aerial search was launched by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand on Tuesday.
An RNZAF P3 Orion, a Piper Navajo and two helicopters have covered about 96,000 square miles (328,000 square kilometres) over the past three days.
The search area extended from 290 nautical miles north of East Cape down to Gisborne, and 430 nautical miles offshore, while the coastline between Tauranga and Gisborne had been searched twice.
'It has been an extremely detailed and thorough search,” says Dave.

Tafadzwa.

'We have been lucky to have had excellent conditions for searching and we are confident that had the yacht been in the search area, we would have found it.”
The search areas were plotted using predictive software that combined tidal, current and weather information.
The rescue coordination centre also obtained background information from Paul's friends and family to assist with the search.
The difficult decision to suspend the search was made after a thorough review of all the information to hand.
'We are obviously very disappointed that we have not found Mr Van Rensburg and his yacht Tafadzwa,” says Dave.
'After reviewing all the information gathered so far, and looking at the extensive area covered, we have had to conclude there is nothing more we can do at this stage.”

The flight search grid.

The search will be stood down until any new information comes to light.
Broadcasts over Maritime Radio advising that Tafadzwa is missing and to report any sightings will remain in place.
Dave thanked the Royal New Zealand Airforce, Philips Search and Rescue Trust and Gisborne Helicopters for the hours they had put in searching for the yacht.