Bellingham Bay Kayak Rescue Video

once at the page, select the Bellingham Bay Kayak Resuce video to get a "chopper's eye" view of a rescue swimmer rescuing a couple of kayakers

check out the cool "auto-pilot" feature of the rescue copter in the following paragraphs-

(Press release follows):

PORT ANGELES, Wash. - Two kayakers were rescued from eight-foot swells and 50-60 knot winds in Bellingham Bay near Bellingham, Wash., today.

An HH-65 helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles was investigating a grounded vessel in Bellingham Bay when they received an emergency call from one of the kayakers at approximately 1:37 p.m. After locating the man, who had made the call with a handheld radio, the helicopter crew lifted him from the water and learned that three of his friends were still kayaking in the area. With the aid of the civilian motor vessel, Fate Hunter, and the tugboat, Lindsey Foss, the helicopter crew then rescued a second kayaker who had been spotted by the crew of the Lindsey Foss. The remaining two kayakers managed to paddle safely to shore.

"The handheld radio these kayakers had was a huge factor in finding them quickly and rescuing them from the water," said Lt. Steven Mahany, Port Angeles Group Public Affairs Officer. "The caller was able to vector our helicopter right to his location."

The rescued kayakers were transported to Bellingham Airport and received by emergency medical personnel.

The mission of Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles is to efficiently and effectively employ people and resources to promote maritime safety, enforce federal laws, regulations and treaties, protect the environment and defend the United States.

The HH-65C Dolphin is a medevac-capable short-range recovery helicopter operated by several agencies in the United States, including the Coast Guard.

The HH-65C has been in use by Air Station Port Angeles since June and is known for its autopilot capabilities, which can complete an unaided approach to the water and bring the aircraft into a stable 50' hover, or automatically fly search patterns which allows the crew to engage in other tasks.

Should have just left them out there.

Kayakers are a PITA.

Hate 'em.

Oh, ok, glad their safe, but I still hate kayakers...

That said, there are boaters who seem to resent extending the same common courtesies to kayakers that they willing extend to fishermen and others in small craft. I witnessed a large, twin screw powerboat pick its way ever so gingerly through a fleet of trailer boats working a school of salmon, and then less than a mile later the same boater's remendous wake almost swamped a cluster of kayaks. It wouldn't have been any tougher to slow down for the kayaks than it was for the fishermen.

I have had kayakers in sea kayaks do exactly that - narrow channel, boats moving in the same direction and as you slowly approach, sounding the horn a couple of times to let them know you are there, just cut right across the bow - less than three feet of room for me to maneuver, stop or slam into reverse with boats behind me cussing up a storm.

I have also seen four or five abreast holding up sail and power boats in a narrow channel oblivious to everything but their own cruise. These things can float in a thimble full of water - what the hell are they doing in the main channel?

The best one was at the Mystic River Bridge last August. 70 something foot yacht moving through the channel (which is about 20 foot across) against the outgoing tide. Kayakers paddling up river lose it in the channel rip under the bridge and cut right across the bow of the yacht. Captain slams into reverse at high power, bow swings over and pins the kayaker up against the bridge pilings. Now what do you do? Fortunately the Captain was a quick thinker - engaged the bow thrusters and got off the kayak in good order, but him and his friends are cursing the Captain for being stupid.

They are a PITA and I don't care how much experience they have in the things.

Next to kayakers, the dumbest bunch of boaters on the water.

They just don't pay attention to them.

And the rental places - fuggitaboutit.