Neil Qualtrough, 64, has not been heard from since leaving Honolulu in June 2007 with the intention of stopping in either Tahiti, Fiji or Samoa en route to Australia.
Mr Qualtrough, an inexperienced sailor who was once almost swept overboard, was fulfilling a lifelong dream of purchasing a yacht and sailing to Australia, his daughter Sarah Qualtrough said in a statement to the Victorian Coroners Court.
After not hearing from him for four weeks, she contacted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) but found they were unhelpful, did not take her "particularly seriously" and refused to conduct a search.
"They said that because Dad hadn't written a detailed travel plan there was little they could do and although I begged them on numerous occasions, they refused to deploy a search and rescue team," Ms Qualtrough said.
She said she first contacted the AMSA in early July 2007 and was told her father had probably been delayed because there was little wind around the equator at that time of year.
The AMSA notified the coast guard in Honolulu and rescue co-ordination centres in countries including Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand, the inquest heard.
Messages were also broadcast on ham radio.
Mr Qualtrough, who served in the merchant navy as a young man, had limited sailing experience, got seasick and was "somewhat clumsy", his daughter said.
He had received offers to crew his yacht but decided to go it alone, the court heard.
In a statement, an AMSA spokesperson said the details of Mr Qualtrough's intended route were not available to the authority.
"Over the period from 9 July 2007 to 9 September 2007, Rescue Coordination Centre Australia made inquiries with more than 19 search and rescue, immigration and foreign affairs and police agencies in Australia and around the Pacific region," the statement said.
"No specific information on Mr Qualtrough's intended route, or evidence of his journey to date, was found."
Victorian State Coroner Jennifer Coate will deliver a finding on a date to be fixed.