No sign of lost ketch

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33962, 1 October 1975, Page 18

No sign of lost ketch

CN’.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. A private aerial search off the Kaikoura coast today failed to find the missing ketch Veronica. Veronica, a 28-foot wooden yacht, has been missing since August 26. when she left on a delivery voyage from Gisborne to Christchurch. Extensive searches by the ’ Search and Rescue Organisation failed to find the ketch ior its three-man crew. Today’s search was made: Iby three Auckland men in al | chartered Cessna aircraft j 'after reports bv N.A.C. pilots ■ of a boat acting strangely off [ Cape Campbell, south of I Blenheim. ' They scanned an area of ■ 3500 square miles while flying for more than four hours.

Conditions were almost perfect, the spokesman for the searchers. Mr J. Ross, said afterwards. Several boats which could have fitted the N.A.C. pilots’ ; description were seen. No sighting of the Veronica was made, and a search of the Kaikoura coast also failed to find any wreckage. The Northern Friends of' Veronica group, the sponsors of today’s search, had not given up hope for the crew but had no immediate plans for more searches. Mr Ross said.

Thev are waiting for results of three private sea searches.

A two-day search of the Antipodes Islands area found ino trace of Veronica either, but the search will continue i further north of the islands. Members of the Dunedin boat Parimar combed the Antipodes after arriving there early yesterday morning and left the area late today without finding any signs of the ketch. Searchers were looking for anv wreckage floating below the cliffs. Extremely rough seas have caused the Tauranga 18-metre motor sailer Nereides to call , off her search for the missing ketch. The vessel is 180 miles east of East Cape.