The search for the missing Durban yacht Moquini has been called off, the coordinator of the civilian search, Matthew Thomas, said on Monday evening.
He said the search was called off after two private helicopters sent out on Monday morning failed to locate the yacht.
”It doesn’t mean that we’ve written them [the crew] off. They could still be on their way back,” said Thomas.
”The public has been extremely generous and there are still funds available for the search, but it’s not our responsibility to spend the money on a wild goose chase.”
The Moquini went missing in the Mauritius-to-Durban yacht race two weeks ago.
Crew members Sheldon Dickerson, his second cousin Mark Dickerson, skipper Graham Cochrane, Neil Tocknell, Kurt Ostendorf and teenager Michael Goolam last communicated with race organisers almost two weeks ago.
Three aircraft were involved in a private search for the yacht after the air force called off its search last week.
On Sunday, a plane spotted a yacht along the coast of Madagascar while it was flying 39 000 feet above sea level.
An aircraft was sent to search the sea at a position 289 nautical miles off Durban, but poor weather hampered the search.
”The search resumed this morning [Monday], but we could not find anything,” said Thomas.
He said the search will resume once further information about the whereabouts of the yacht is available.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre also said its search has been put on hold until further information is available. — Sapa