The search for the 42ft yacht the Blessed Be, missing since August 23 on a journey between Noumea and the coast of Australia, has been suspended. However, relatives are asking for all to report sightings of debris along the coastline.

The search had also narrowed to an area between Fraser Island and the Queensland/NSW border, and for the last two days been scaled down to two radar equipped aircraft.

The families said in a statement to the Australian Newspaper that they were 'gravely concerned', but at the same time 'extremely optimistic' the pair will be found safe.

They said that Bruce Glasson, 58, and Graeme Woodhouse, 60, last made contact with their families on August 23 in the final stages of a trip from Fiji.

Mr Glasson, a retired businessman, is a father of four who lives on a rural property near the NSW town of Uralla.

'He is an extremely experienced and passionate yachtsman and has done many years of open ocean sailing,' the families said. 'He built his first sailing boat at school when he was 16 years old.'

Mr Woodhouse, a Sydney father of three, was a Qantas 747 captain before retiring in July. 'He left Australia on July 9 with his close friend Bruce, to sail the 42ft Blessed Be from Fiji to Brisbane,' the families said.

'The pair have many years of sailing experience, are aware of the risks involved and have all the correct safety equipment aboard. 'The families would like to thank AMSA, the RAAF, Coastwatch, the NSW and Queensland police and SES observers, Careflight, Westpac and Energex Rescue, the volunteer coast guard and all other civil aircraft operators and their search crews for their continuing commitment and diligence.

'Time is now a critical factor and we are pleading for help from every man, woman and child along our huge coastline to pay very careful attention to any debris or wreckage, which may provide evidence of their whereabouts.

'We ask that any article or information, no matter how small, is reported immediately to the search and rescue authorities or the police.

'Please help us find them.'

The Background:

The search, triggered by family who reported their concerns to AMSA, was delayed several days because of faulty information, which had at least ten aircraft scouring waters between Moreton Island and Newcastle between breaks in the weather, which also hampered the commencement of the search.

The AMSA had been led to believe the pair had made radio contact with Southport's Seaway Tower on August 27 from 40 nautical miles east of the Gold Coast.

However, the AMSA spokeswoman said that after listening to that a recording of the communication, it was realised it did not involve the missing yachtsmen. The error apparently occurred due to the name of a yacht very similar to 'Blessed Be' being radioed to the volunteer on duty at the time.

'We've actually got a copy of the tape and believe it was another vessel,' she said. 'We're now working on information that families have provided regarding a satellite phone conversation they had on August 23. 'That conversation said they were heading further north.'

On Friday 5th September, six aircraft battled 40km/h winds, heavy rain and isolated storms between Cape Moreton and Newcastle. Planes and helicopters continued the search on Saturday, in bad weather.

However, after the error was discovered, on Sunday the three helicopters and 10 fixed wing aircraft shifted their attention to the waters between Brisbane and Bundaberg, an area which has now been amended to allow for drift patterns.

Blessed Be was equipped with a satellite phone, a life raft and a 406 Epirb which was not activated, and they had not answered calls on Channel 16. The search was started after worried family members contacted AMSA.

by BW Media Roundup

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