The San Rosa boat was abandoned at sea in April. Repeated efforts to track down the owner - Ross William McIntosh - have been unsuccessful. Photo: Supplied/ Local Democracy Reporting/ Gisborne Herald - Liam Clayton
The owner of an abandoned boat who has successfully evaded police for the past six months previously spent time in prison for cultivating cannabis to sell.
Local Democracy Reporting can reveal that Ross William McIntosh is the owner of the San Rosa - an ex-fishing trawler that was abandoned off the East Coast on 9 April.
Following the dramatic sea rescue, McIntosh's boat drifted through Cyclone Fili before washing up on a remote section of beach near Tikitiki, about two hours north of Gisborne.
Repeated attempts from both the police and the district council to track McIntosh have been unsuccessful despite him owing the latter more than $10,000 for the removal of the vessel last month.
McIntosh had already failed to comply with a public notice to remove the boat by 20 May, meaning he was in breach of the Maritime Transport Act and could face a fine up to $10,000 or 12 months imprisonment.
It is not the first time he has had a brush with the law.
In 2016, McIntosh was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for his part in a cannabis growing operation at an undisclosed location on the Buller River.
McIntosh and his counterpart accessed the site by boat and the crop was cultivated for personal use and for sale.
When police raided his house, drug dogs found two containers at the rear of the property used to store cannabis plants.
McIntosh was also found to be in unlawful possession of firearms.
The prosecution required the forfeiture of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, jetboat and trailer, along with either $110,000 or a property he owned.
The judge told McIntosh he would be "an absolute fool" to return to having drugs in his possession or to cultivate cannabis anywhere on the West Coast.
The 18-metre ex-fishing trawler was built in the 1950s. It was en route to the Marlborough region when it ran into difficulty. Photo: Supplied/ Local Democracy Reporting/ Gisborne Herald - Liam Clayton
Meanwhile, the police and council harbourmaster Peter Buell held out little hope they would be able to track down the elusive McIntosh. In October a police spokesperson said there were "currently no more avenues for police".
Following last month's removal of San Rosa, Buell described the situation as "a very sad ending for a beautiful little boat".
On the day it got into difficulty San Rosa was two days into its voyage from Tauranga to Marlborough.
It had recently been bought by McIntosh, who was one of three crew members on board when the mayday was sent out
10 nautical miles off the coast of Tokomaru Bay.
The original plan was to wait for a tow but four-metre swells proved too much for the resolve of those onboard, and they ultimately requested immediate evacuation.
A helicopter was sent soon after and all three were winched to safety, along with a dog.
The 18-metre, 55-tonne San Rosa started its life as a commercial fishing vessel in 1955 with Auckland-based company Sandford Ltd.
The final invoice for its removal last month was $11,732.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air