A video message from one of the crew members on-board missing sail boat Nina reveals how excited he was to be leaving New Zealand for Australia.
The message from American Kyle Bruce Jackson was filmed the day before the 84-year-old wooden vessel left Opua in the Bay of Islands for Newcastle.
In the message, Mr Jackson tells his sister Meg he will make contact again once he's in Australia.
"Hey Meg - okay so tomorrow, we're supposed to be going to Australia.
"I had some low times, I had some high times and some sea-level times," he joked.
"I love you, I look forward to talking to you when I'm in Australia."
It has been more than a month since the vessel's seven-strong crew were heard from.
A private search for the classic schooner, co-ordinated by American organisation Texas EquuSearch, was yesterday postponed after poor weather prevented aerial searches of an area measuring about 48,000 sq km east of Newcastle
Texas EquuSearch senior adviser Ralph Baird said three aircraft would today resume searching the lower part of the area, as the top portion had been covered.
Aerial crews have already carried out two full days of aerial searches of the area, he said.
The official Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand search and rescue operation was suspended on Saturday 6 July after 12 days of searching failed to locate any sign of the missing vessel, which left new Zealand on May 29.
Mr Baird said family members of the missing Nina crew were receiving daily search updates.
The yacht was owned by 58-year-old American David Dyche. His wife, Rosemary, 60, and their son David, 17, were travelling with him, as well as well-known maritime technology expert Evi Nemeth, 7.
British man Matthew Wootton, 35, was also on board.
Mr Baird yesterday said there was a 70 to 80 per cent probability of survivors on Nina.
Search and rescue teams were looking for a vessel on the surface, which was likely to be drifting at around three to four knots. Its sails would probably be closed in or non-existing, he said.
* Those wishing to donate towards the private search operation for Nina should go to www.7-1-3.com/TES/NINA/DONATE
