Kayak Rescue after Fishing in Lovers Point SMR

Anyone know who it was that got rescued from Lovers Point on 5/12?

My wife and I were driving home on our typical route on Sunday afternoon that takes us by the ocean and in this case, Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. She pointed out a flipped kayak tangled in the seaweed. I immediately pulled over, jumped out of the car and walked to the edge of the cliff where I saw a brown kayak (kind of looked like a Hobie but couldn't tell). I yelled to see if he was ok (he was moving but struggling and not getting back up or responding to me). He flipped his kayak over a few times but it kept going back upside down. I sprinted down to the kayak rental place to inform them, the said the guy appeared to be fishing before flipping. I asked to use one of their rental kayaks to go over and assist him. He said no because it's a liability. I said I'd sign the waiver quickly, to which he again replied no. It was strange but the guy in the shop (older gentleman) didn't seem too worried about it. He walked down to one of his kayak guides, let him know the situation, walked back, and in no rush, got one of his yaks, and carried it down to paddle over to the guy. Meanwhile the coast guard was called and showed up to assist the guy out of the kelp.

I was nearly ready to "steal" one of the rental yaks because the elapsed time was probably about 9 minutes already which I knew for someone in poor health and waders with no PFD might have been too late. Thankfully the guy was wearing a PFD. Coast guard got there about 6 minutes later. I kept an eye on the guy from back at the cliffs which was nearer than the beach, in case I needed to jump in (in street clothes) to help him out. I've swam the cold water without wet suits (used to polar dive) and was confident I could reach and assist if needed.

The green circle in the pic is where the guy was reportedly fishing at, and flipped at. Anyone know who he was?

Just goes to show how important it is to continue to remind people to practice self rescue and safety on a yak and in the water. Thankfully Coast Guard rescued him and his yak.

What is the name of the rental company?  Sounds like they could use a Yelp comment or two commenting on their behavior.

What is the name of the rental company?  Sounds like they could use a Yelp comment or two commenting on their behavior.

+1

Glad to hear that it turned out OK, in spite of the kayak rental dude...

What is the name of the rental company?  Sounds like they could use a Yelp comment or two commenting on their behavior.

Well, the owner of the company is a really nice guy and has helped me with stuff in the past, so I'm hesitant to bash the company. I think it was more just the dude working that didn't seem to think a kayaker without a wetsuit, flipped and tangled in seaweed wasn't something to rush about...

Upon thinking about it, I should have just taken a yak without asking.

Upon thinking about it, I should have just taken a yak without asking.

We are all so hardwired against taking stuff that doesn’t belong to us that we get trapped in a sort of moral dilemma.  Don’t beat yourself up over it during your debrief.

I’m glad the guy is ok.

What is the name of the rental company?  Sounds like they could use a Yelp comment or two commenting on their behavior.

Well, the owner of the company is a really nice guy and has helped me with stuff in the past, so I'm hesitant to bash the company. I think it was more just the dude working that didn't seem to think a kayaker without a wetsuit, flipped and tangled in seaweed wasn't something to rush about...

Upon thinking about it, I should have just taken a yak without asking.

you would think that someone renting kayaks to people in the always cold water of the Monterey Bay would understand, but maybe he knew that coast guard was already on the way?

Good thing to keep in mind, getting tangled in the seaweed, thank you for posting this.

Im pretty sure this is the place. I've been in there few times. They are nice but the line was drawn after that... I wont spend $ there any more. Someone in need of help and then he is denying them help and not seeming like he really cares or really wants to help us BS! He should have had you sign a waiver quickly and got you out there with one of the guides. Kayakers, and boaters in general stick together and help each other out when broken down, hurt or flipped over even if that means your day of fishing is over and it's turned into a rescue.

Was the flipt guy pooching in a smr?

Nope, this was outside the SMR that starts at lovers pt

I've seen the rental company at each location and ownership -take their own gear and their own risk and go help people not -'their customers' not in their scope of pay -so many times I cant count--I've seen them give folks free days just for fun to see folks go on a bike or a kayak.
I've had their owner jump in a kayak in shorts and paddle out to me 6 years ago as I chose to kick alongside a tiny kayak that I had capsized while trying to learn but did not want my two freshwater fenwicks to get broken as the yak rolled while i learned...because I chose to go into the ocean to learn...
They clean up bio hazard bum trash daily and hand pick the beach....

the guy in the yak is an idiot-like me-he'll learn...people been swimming out there before wetsuits came into fashion and still do

the older shop guy probably been around blok, seen lotsa things, including ppl going in drink n wasn't worried.

After all, seems like everything workd as it should have.  the low margin rental business avoided undue risk, EMS/Coasties did they thing, yakfisher survived.  and every1 went home w a tale 2 tell. 

i 1nce was on a helo waterfall tour of Napali coast.  off in distance i see smoke billowing off what appears 2 b a burning wreck at sea.  shoulder tap the pilot and try to vector him over, and have him call it in.  he took 1 quick broad scan, prolly did some quick mental calculations re: flight time and fuel.  He figd 2 have 3 other paying passngrs aboard, and so he waived me off and continued with the waterfalls.

when ppl r runnnig a bizniz upon witch mortgage tuition food costs depend, they ain't likely 2 step out 4 perceived non-revenue risk.  cna't blame em neithr 

Nope, this was outside the SMR that starts at lovers pt

According to the attached picture, he was in the SMR.

I've seen the rental company at each location and ownership -take their own gear and their own risk and go help people not -'their customers' not in their scope of pay -so many times I cant count--I've seen them give folks free days just for fun to see folks go on a bike or a kayak.
I've had their owner jump in a kayak in shorts and paddle out to me 6 years ago as I chose to kick alongside a tiny kayak that I had capsized while trying to learn but did not want my two freshwater fenwicks to get broken as the yak rolled while i learned...because I chose to go into the ocean to learn...
They clean up bio hazard bum trash daily and hand pick the beach....

the guy in the yak is an idiot-like me-he'll learn...people been swimming out there before wetsuits came into fashion and still do

I don't disagree with you. I've had great experiences with this company. I was just surprised that the guy was so "sluggish" about a solution to someone that had been flipped and tangled for over 10 minutes. If it just had happened that's one thing, but it had been long enough that had he not been wearing a PFD, things could have gotten much worse. I would definitely continue to give the company referrals and my business as opportunity comes up.

I'd have done the same thing probably and gotten in our gotten the guy or argued lol...not bashing you- I see folks rescued right after launch lol..bet it gets old lol

Not an excuse, but it probably happens all the time. You did the right thing brother.
E2G found a dead body floating in the kelp off PG once.

You did the right thing. Glad the guy is okay and thanks for sharing.