PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued three kayakers Friday near Wachapreague.Watchstanders in the 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 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.”