PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued three kayakers Friday near Wachapreague.
Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads Command Center in Portsmouth were notified at about 7:07 p.m. that three kayakers in Burtons Bay had become overwhelmed by wind and were too exhausted to paddle.
Sector watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and Coast Guard Station Wachapreague launched a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water (SPC-SW) crew from Folley Creek boat ramp at about 8:04 p.m.
The crew located one of the kayakers with a searchlight between Burtons Bay and Teagles Ditch at about 8:14 p.m., after the crew first heard his whistle.
The crew took the kayaker aboard the SPC-SW who then directed the crew to the other two kayakers in Cedar Bay.
The crew brought all three kayakers and their kayaks to Station Wachapreague, arriving at about 8:57 p.m.
“It was a good thing the kayakers had a whistle that led us to them,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Sanchez, SPC-SW coxswain for the case. “Sometimes something as simple as a noise-making device can save your life out there. We encourage everyone to stay at home to ride out this storm and to not take any unnecessary risks.”
