Lost Kayaker

[Bill H]

Coast Guard searches throughout night for missing kayaker

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The Coast Guard cutter Reliance took part in a multi-agency air and sea search for a kayaker reported missing after he didn't return to Odiorne Point Friday night.

Karen Dandurant

By Karen Dandurant

kdandurant@seacoastonline.com

February 28, 2009 6:00 AM

RYE — The Coast Guard resumed a water and air search Friday night for a kayaker reported missing earlier that day. Crews were expected to search the seas throughout the night.

Earlier reports from the Coast Guard indicated the man had been located at about 2 p.m. According to Chief John Roberts, the kayaker told the Coast Guard at that time he was going to have lunch at Star Island.

Related Stories

* Search resumes for kayaker who was found, reported lost again

* Kayaker reported missing is found safe

The man, who authorities would not identify, was seen in a yellow kayak and wearing a green wetsuit. He reportedly left Star Island at 3 p.m., but never returned to Odiorne Point.

The New Castle Fire Department was conducting search involving infrared technology. A Coast Guard helicopter that had been used in the search was scheduled to return to Station Cape Cod to refuel at 10:40 p.m.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard said the military sent out a 47-foot motor life boat in addition to the helicopter. He said neighboring agencies and their craft were also assisting, including the Marine Patrol and emergency officials from Rye and New Castle, and Kittery and York, Maine.

Police in Kittery, Maine, were asked to check a home at 10 Baxter Lane for the man, who is friends with the owners of the property and sometimes paddles out from there. Police said they found no one at the home.

The missing man's brother-in-law was with police and said he is in his early 60s, not 50.

Roberts said the Coast Guard conducted the first search for the man after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.

"The caller was on the beach in the Odiorne Point area and saw a yellow kayak heading out," Roberts said. "He felt it was too rough out for kayaking. He said he ran inside to get his cell phone, and when he came back outside he could no longer see the kayaker."

Robert said the Guard dispatched the 47-foot boat at that time.

"We had found a green Subaru with a kayak rack," Roberts said earlier. "New Castle police ran the plate number and we were able to confirm the man was headed out toward the Isles of Shoals. So we searched to confirm that person was safe."

[jwhipple]

update:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/200...8-NEWS-90228003

[alcoons]

update:

http://wbztv.com/local/missing.kayaker.new.2.946651.html

[sidcohen]

Another update:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dl...1/NEWS/90301014

[alcoons]

Another update with some more history/details.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/200...-NEWS-903010333

[scamlin]

Conditions at Isle of Shoals on Februery 27, 2009

The data from last Friday are below. It has a familiar pattern of launching in reasonable conditions only to find the return the conditions are considerably worse.

During prep and launch (11 AM to 12:30 PM if press reports are accurate), the winds were about 15 kts from the SE. From Odiorne Point, the winds would have been directly head on, a very stable direction to paddle a kayak.

When he launched to return at 3 PM, the winds had picked up considerably, 25-28 kts over the next several hours, a range only advanced paddlers can handle. Still out of the SE, they would have been following seas, the most unstable direction for a kayaker.

Also, with sunset about 5:30 PM, he would have had 2-1/2, maybe 3 hours at the most of daylight to cover almost eight miles. If he had the skills to surf the swells and with the tail wind, it is possible to make 4-5 kts, so it is doable in two hours, but it's a gamble.

Station IOSN3 - Isle of Shoals, NH

Real time continuous wind data

February 27, 2009

First, the conditions before and during launch from Ordine Point:

#YY MM DD hh mm WDIR WSPD GDR GST GTIME

#yr mo dy hr mn degT m/s degT m/s hhmm

2009 02 27 12 30 159 9.8 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 12 20 163 9.8 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 12 10 164 9.3 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 12 00 164 8.2 160 9.8 1159

2009 02 27 11 50 167 7.7 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 11 40 167 7.7 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 11 30 167 7.7 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 11 20 168 7.2 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 11 10 170 7.2 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 11 00 169 7.2 160 9.3 1002

Conversion factor: 1 M/S = 1.944 Knots

7.2 M/S 14 kts at 11 AM

8.2 M/S 16 kts at 12 Noon

9.8 M/S 19 kts at 12:30 PM

2009 02 27 18 00 153 14.4 160 15.4 1739

2009 02 27 17 50 155 14.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 17 40 157 14.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 17 30 156 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 17 20 156 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 17 10 158 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 17 00 159 12.9 160 15.4 1625

2009 02 27 16 50 159 12.9 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 16 40 159 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 16 30 157 13.9 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 16 20 156 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 16 10 154 13.9 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 16 00 156 14.4 160 15.4 1549

2009 02 27 15 50 156 13.9 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 15 40 156 13.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 15 30 159 11.8 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 15 20 159 12.4 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 15 10 162 12.9 999 99.0 9999

2009 02 27 15 00 164 12.9 160 14.4 1454

12.9 M/S 25 kts at 3 PM

14.4 M/S 28 kts at 4 PM

12.9 M/S 25 kts at 5 PM

14.4 M/S 28 kts at 6 PM

Scott

[hopefloats]

Very very sad. My heart goes out to the family.

http://www.wmur.com/news/18814749/detail.html

[EEL]

Conditions at Isle of Shoals on Februery 27, 2009

The data from last Friday are below. It has a familiar pattern of launching in reasonable conditions only to find the return the conditions are considerably worse.

For some reason the recorded wind velocities at that Isle of Shoals are typically a fair bit higher than at the Western Maine buoy which is also 6 NM east of the coast. I suspect it is the elevation of the station. In any event, the wind and waves reported at the

Western Maine buoy might be more representative of the conditions encountered and should give pause for thought since at first blush they might not seem horrific.

For example, last July 13th, Rick S. instigated a little paddle out of Odiorne and as I recall nobody thought things were mild even though nobody went past Odiorne Point to experience the full sea state that day. On that day the same buoy showed winds of @14kts with gusts to @18kts and waves of @4.7' at 5.5 sec.

Last Friday the sustained winds were @20Kts with gusts @25kts.

Waves were @5.5' with a period of around @5.5 sec. I rather think that means a very difficult paddle in rear quartering seas and likely not much margin for error. Obviously a totally different ballgame from heading into the seas on the way out.

One has to wonder about the decisions made.

According to local reports he had paddled out to Isle of Shoals "dozens of times". Familiarity may have played a part. It was also reported he was an experienced kayaker. Who knows what that means, likely just that he had paddled for a long time as opposed to having any particular skill set.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...WS_01/703029907

Ed Lawson

[EEL]

http://www.wmur.com/news/18814749/detail.html

Note the video clip. Paddle with attached foam paddle float (at each end?) tethered to the kayak when found.

[Gcosloy]

Recognizing how churlish it must seem to speculate about this paddler's preparedness after such a tragedy, there are a few facts that a priori are questionable: A wetsuit is inappropriate for winter paddling in N.E. if it was the 3mm Farmer John variety. In my opinion, so is paddling solo. The double paddle floats may have meant that he wet exited and this was his method of reentering his boat, which in rough seas was probably unsuccessful. Lastly a cell phone as opposed to a waterproof vhf marine radio also was inappropriate, first for it's lack of weatherproofing and secondly for the false sense of security it engenders. It would be interesting to hear the cell phone conversation the CG had with him at 3:00PM. By then the wind and sea conditions had deteriorated. Had they questioned him at that point and reviewed the sea conditions? Call us when you get back to Ordione PT. seems rather uninspired! Finally, that Friday was another example of N.E. taunting us all sick of Winter's cold with an air temp. of 55. This was a terrible tragedy and I am very sad for his family and all those he came in contact with. Many of the personal comments from family and friends and children in the on-line news report are heartbreaking.

[bazzert]

A wetsuit is inappropriate for winter paddling in N.E

I wouldnt be surprised if the media or bystanders could not distinguish between a wetsuit and a drysuit. He may very well have been wearing a drysuit.

[spider]

I was wondering if anyone here might have known him?

His name Hamilton "Toby" Wood.

It mentions in some of the reports that he had paddled to the Isle of Shoals numerous times, thought perhaps some folks here might have known him.

[spuglisi]

I was wondering if anyone here might have known him?

His name Hamilton "Toby" Wood.

It mentions in some of the reports that he had paddled to the Isle of Shoals numerous times, thought perhaps some folks here might have known him.

I haven't heard anyone mention that they know him. I think he was from the Concord NH area.

[gyork]

I was wondering if anyone here might have known him?

Though he's from my hometown of Hopkinton, I've never met him, but have friends who knew him well.

Gary

[PeterB]

I wouldnt be surprised if the media or bystanders could not distinguish between a wetsuit and a drysuit. He may very well have been wearing a drysuit.

In WFA I was told that in waters of that temperature, (say, around 40 degrees F) a drysuit will buy a person about twenty minutes of normal function, i.e. to be able to perform tasks common to sea kayaking, after which one could expect to decline, some faster than others.

[rcohn]

In WFA I was told that in waters of that temperature, (say, around 40 degrees F) a drysuit will buy a person about twenty minutes of normal function, i.e. to be able to perform tasks common to sea kayaking, after which one could expect to decline, some faster than others.

Hands are critical too. Once your hands become too cold to function, you're in serious trouble even if your core temperature is still ok.

Ralph

[B]

CG Video of the boat attempting to be recovered.

http://www.youtube.com/uscgimagery

[Kevin B (RPS Coach)]

QUOTE(B @ Mar 4 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CG Video of the boat attempting to be recovered.

http://www.youtube.com/uscgimagery

Wow, that video really hits hard...particularly seeing the foam paddle float on the end of the paddle.

[hopefloats]

Pretty eerie, and heart breaking.

Stories like this always make me so thankful I have met a lot of kayak friends that

1) have taught me so much and...

2) that make it possible that i won't ever have to go it alone.

[Kevin B (RPS Coach)]

Pretty eerie, and heart breaking.

Stories like this always make me so thankful I have met a lot of kayak friends that

1) have taught me so much and...

2) that make it possible that i won't ever have to go it alone.

FYI, the link in Bob's post has changed...here is the link for the video:

[JohnHuth]

That video really brought it home. I remember paddling out of Nantasket Beach in late April on a somewhat breezy day, and having to deal with a few issues. For this, I can't even imagine. Horrible.

[leong]

Thoughts to ponder:

I wonder if sponsons could have saved a life here? Could sponsons have stabilized the boat after re-entry? Is it difficult to employ sponsons sitting in a water-filled cockpit?

I wonder if a handheld VHF with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) could have saved a life here; i.e. the digital distress message would contain the kayak's position and identifying information?

[gyork]

Thoughts to ponder:

I wonder if sponsons could have saved a life here? Could sponsons have stabilized the boat after re-entry? Is it difficult to employ sponsons sitting in a water-filled cockpit?

I wonder if a handheld VHF with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) could have saved a life here; i.e. the digital distress message would contain the kayak's position and identifying information?

I think we all have an interest in what was on the boat and person. Even then, we are forced to speculate. Will the Coast Guard release any detailed info on their findings, when all recovery efforts are exhausted?

[Ben Fuller]

I think we all have an interest in what was on the boat and person. Even then, we are forced to speculate. Will the Coast Guard release any detailed info on their findings, when all recovery efforts are exhausted?

I should see Al Johnson who is the Coast Guard person responsible for monitoring boating fatalities in New England at a Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors meeting mid April and will ask him.

What has been learned so far is that he did not have a VHF only a cell phone. He seems to have been wearing a wet suit not a dry suit, which if a surfing wet suit may not have been a bad choice. And he made a really really bad decision to do a solo open water paddle in what started out as a brisk winter day at 15 knots. I suspect that the CG will examine why they did not make him abort when they first stopped him.

Ben

[leong]

I think we all have an interest in what was on the boat and person. Even then, we are forced to speculate. Will the Coast Guard release any detailed info on their findings, when all recovery efforts are exhausted?

My thoughts to ponder (use of DSC VHF and/or sponsons for safety) stand alone. That is, they are independent of this incident or the details of this incident. Perhaps I should post them on another thread; I posted here because of the relevance to the unfortunate death of a fellow paddler.