I hope they are able to find this fellow today. He is missing off Portsmouth.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090227-NEWS-90227045
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090227/NEWS/90227026
UPDATE930am
So they think they have his kayak now. This would be a positive ID if kayaks affixed owners name plates with contact information. We have conducted searches for paddlers after finding loose kayaks. The kayak had merely floated away.
Boon Island where they found his kayak is well North of the Shoals. The NOAA Shoals buoy recorded gusts of close to 40 knots yesterday at 3pm. I have to say it is interesting from a tide and wind perspective that the kayak was found in that location. He called the CG to say he was on his way back, to Odiorne Point, from his intended destination Smuttynose Island.
You can expect a great deal of followup on this story this week. I would hope that the authorities are looking at all the angles. It is a very sad but also odd story.
Paddling alone could be dangerous anytime of the year and I see lots of people doing it. It is about 7 miles to Star Island and that body of water is busy in the Summer. I have no idea of Winter traffic. I do know that kayaks suffer from low visibility compounded by swells. The kayak does not lend itself to masts for radar reflectors. I wish paddlers would at least employ some light on a short mast or a flashlight in the evening. They can be very hard to see.
The articles imply the fellow was located once and asked about his plans. They do not say whether it was suggested to him to turn back. I don’t know how many kayaks carry VHF radios. I don’t know if a Hand held VHF in such a low profile vessel is useful. Flares? Smoke? you could have all this gear and one good wave or another boat riding over you could make it moot. I looked and he left Star Island about 3pm the tide was going out, with low being at 630pm.
The Mountain rescue group in NH located and walked out a guy just the other day. Another loner in the wild. He was actually quite prepared with his gear, and telling people of his plans. He missed one thing,watching a weather report. The area got 2 feet of snow.
There are significant and frankly expensive resources being utilized now to find a kayak. Those survival shows on tv? They are fun to watch, all the bugs that are edible, how to fix your own compound fracture, good stuff. Do you know what was one of the biggest sellers during the ice storm? Cigarette lighters! People don’t even have matches to light candles.
You are on your own. We cannot put Rangers at trail heads to stop people from heading up to the summit in sneakers with no water or flash light at 230pm. We cannot patrol the beaches to prevent adults (this guy is 60) from having an adventure. I hope they are able to recover this fellow. It is unreasonable to think the Coast Guard is going to be providing concierge service on the water. I listen to the calls on the boat during the Summer. If you are floating and not sinking ,they suggest you call a Boat Tow service. That is how it should be on the water.
Mike
The Exeter Town Crier 