The distraught family of a well-known Wellsford yachtie are waiting in hope for his body to be found.
Donald Ravenscroft, 73, was reported missing from his ketch, Rakiah, on Monday night.
Police suspect he drowned while trying to swim to his inflatable boat, which may have drifted away from the ketch's mooring at Mahurangi, north of Auckland.
An extensive search has so far failed to find his body.
Sergeant Bede Haughey of Warkworth police said Mr Ravenscroft's family was coming to grips with what had probably happened.
They were "sitting, waiting, hoping" as the search continued.
"They are clearly very upset with what has taken place."
Mr Haughey said the close-knit community in Mahurangi was involved in the search.
"Everyone in that boating fraternity have taken it a little bit personally. He was very well-known, as was the ketch. He'd lived on that ketch for several years with his wife."
Mr Ravenscroft was last heard from about 7.40pm on Sunday, when he phoned his wife to tell her he would drive home to Wellsford.
His ketch remains at its mooring at the Mahurangi River estuary, while his car was found parked at Scott's Landing.
Personal belongings, including his car keys and cellphone, were found on the yacht.
Mr Ravenscroft's inflatable boat was found on Monday night, tied to a pohutukawa tree on the western side of the Mahurangi Harbour, opposite Scott's Landing.
An outboard motor and a pair of wooden oars were missing, but police recovered them this morning.
Mr Haughey said a member of public had taken them in "for safe keeping".
"It's given us a little more certainty around what we think has taken place."
A shoreline search was continuing today, while police divers were searching the seabed around the ketch. Navy divers were assisting with sonar.
"We remain hopeful," Mr Haughey said.
