Rough weather may end yacht search
Posted
Authorities say dangerous weather conditions could force them to call off the search for two men missing off the Queensland-New South Wales coast.
Six planes are searching for the men's 7.3 metre yacht from Moreton Bay, off Brisbane, to Newcastle in New South Wales.
The Australians have been sailing from New Caledonia to Australia.
They last made radio contact on August 27 near the Gold Coast, but concerned relatives raised the alarm when they had not heard from them by Monday.
Tracey Jiggins from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority says the search planes are battling 75 kilometre an hour winds and heavy rain in some areas.
"We suspect with the conditions the way they are that they will not be up for too much longer," she said.
Ms Jiggins says the planes will remain on boat search stand-by if the search is called off.
The yacht's emergency beacon has not been activated.
