Search for missing yacht to continue

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 2

Search for missing yacht to continue

The search for the missing Australian yacht Charleston should start again today, depending on the weather. Mr Max Forster, a representative of the crew and of the Royal Yacht Club, Hobart said that the winds off-shore from Hokitika were now fairly light, and should not affect search work greatly. If the weather held, the air searches would continue to the north.

In the meantime, the Japanese and Korean embassies had been approached for assistance. It was hoped that -squid boats working off-shore north of Hokitika and up to the north of the South Island would keep an eye out for signs of the yacht.

Mr Forster said that it was now known that the Charleston was carrying a yellow liferaft marked with the number, 39. The liferaft would probably be big enough to hold eight men. The Hobart to Auckland yacht race started yesterday and participating boats had been advised of the situation, said Mr Forster. It was possible, although unlikely, that they might cross the path of the Charleston, but the first boats were not expected to reach Auckland for eight to 10 days. Mr Forster expected an early start of the air search this morning. The pilot would keep a close watch for the Charleston’s bright - yellow liferaft.