A Northland eye surgeon drowned while trying to cross Whangarei Harbour in a small dinghy in treacherous conditions, a coroner has ruled.
Father of three Geoffrey Martin Wallace, 46, went missing while sailing from One Tree Point to his home at Parua Bay on October 24, 2007.
The 2.7m aluminium dinghy was found without its motor the next day, but his body wasn't found until 12 days later on November 5.
It was unclear whether he had been wearing a life jacket, an inquest in Whangarei Coroner's Court was told.
Coroner Brandt Shortland said the harbour conditions were so bad, Mr Wallace's life would have been in danger with or without a life jacket.
When he set out, the wind was blowing up to 30 knots and the waves were up to 1.2m.
Mr Wallace's widow Kathryn told the court her husband was careful on the water and the decision to sail in those conditions was out of character, The Northern Advocate reported.
Mr Wallace had been in a rush to get home by 7pm to look after the couple's children so his wife could have a night out with friends, his brother-in-law Peter Holder told the inquest.
He said "his devotion and sense of duty to his family clouded his judgement on that day".
His wife called police when Mr Wallace failed to make it home, and dozens of police and volunteers searched the sea and coastline over the next 12 days, finding a hat, oars and his shoes.
Mr Wallace's body was spotted by a helicopter pilot near Snake Bank on November 5.
