Kayaker rescued by SC harbor patrol

Saw a novice kayaker exit the harbor mouth today around 1pm, about 75 yards outside the mouth he lost his balance and took a drink.  A sailboat on their way in tacked and checked on the fellow as he was attempting to re Easter his kayak, someone must have radioed his situation in, harbor patrol came out and ended up picking him and his boat up and bringing them back in.  Had to be a 8mph wing from the NE coming in, lots of chop and small breakers rolling across the mouth.  Glad he was picked up safely.


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Glad to hear that it ended well.

Sounds like he didn’t get far

A while back HMB harbor patrol told me they’re doing this a lot

Sounds like he didn’t get far

A while back HMB harbor patrol told me they’re doing this a lot

I'm sure it happens a lot in Santa Cruz too. I've seen many kayakers heading out of the harbor who were unprepared. In one case that really stuck in my memory some reason, a father and son were heading out to fish, and they were wearing street clothes. I was just coming in, and mentioned that the wind was picking up and the water was cold, and asked if they had a radio. They had no radio, and seemed to have no idea that such a thing exists. So, I asked if they'd be able to get back on their kayak if they tipped over, and they seemed confused about that concept too. As they were heading out, the dad said something like, "If we fall in, we plan to yell real loud..."

Sounds like he didn’t get far

A while back HMB harbor patrol told me they’re doing this a lot

Last summer I saw this happen twice - kayakers capsizing less than 100 yards out of the harbor and harbor patrol picking them up. An 8mph wind with some accompanying swell and chop is about an average day on the bay. In any case, one should always be prepared for immersion- especially as the air temps start to warm up and the ocean stays its balmy low 50s.

Glad the kayaker is safe.
    I was at SC with crew and saw a guy, solo, in an one of those fold able kayaks, no PFD, and street clothes.  Triggered Tedski's Coastie-sense hard.
  I told Origami-yak guy "it's getting rough out there, waves are picking up", he said "I like big waves, they're fun!" but then he (wisely) turned around and his kayak bent in half while getting out.  People at the launch said dude had dunked twice before we saw him. 
People are crazy....
 

Glad the kayaker is safe.
    I was at SC with crew and saw a guy, solo, in an one of those fold able kayaks, no PFD, and street clothes.  Triggered Tedski's Coastie-sense hard.
  I told Origami-yak guy "it's getting rough out there, waves are picking up", he said "I like big waves, they're fun!" but then he (wisely) turned around and his kayak bent in half while getting out.  People at the launch said dude had dunked twice before we saw him. 
People are crazy....
 

That dude was also in athletic pants, a tank top, no pfd and was holding his paddle upside down and backwards.  Meanwhile we were heading in to retreat from the crazy wind waves.  Nicky aint kiddin' when he says it triggered my coastie sense... mostly in a "what in the fuck are you doing, you clown?!" type of sense, though.

Maybe in a case like that the best thing is wish them luck and try your best not to break up laughing

We were surfing just down the road a piece same day the guy was rescued, surf was getting better just as we had to leave