State still looking

UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for kayaker missing near Friendship

Tue, 07/23/2019 - 8:30am

Update: The U.S.Coast Guard reported over Twitter Tuesday night, crews have suspended the active search, “pending further developments.” And Wednesday afternoon, Maine Department of Marine Resources spokesman Jeff Nichols said Maine Marine Patrol will keep searching near Allen Island by water and air though the end of the week, then determine next steps.

Original post:

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching by water and air Tuesday morning for a missing 79-year-old man, a spokesman said.

The search began after Baruch Roberts’ kayak was found near Allen Island Monday morning, Petty Officer Zachary Hupp said in a phone interview. The kayak had one of the Coast Guard’s “If found” stickers on it, filled out with contact information, Hupp said. The Coast Guard called the number and reached Roberts’ daughter, who was unaware he was missing, as he had told relatives Sunday morning that he was going camping, Hupp explained.

“All indications point that the kayak did not capsize,” Hupp said.

The initial search has been about six miles wide, between Friendship and Allen Island, he said. Visibility was unrestricted Monday night with about two-foot seas and wind at about 13 knots, Hupp said.

A boat from the Coast Guard’s Boothbay Harbor station and the 110-foot cutter Ocracoke out of Portland continued searching overnight Monday into Tuesday; an MH-60 helicopter Jayhawk from the Cape Cod station returned Tuesday morning after leaving  for the night due to fuel limits, Hupp said.

Hupp did not yet have  Roberts’ town of residence. 

The sticker was key to the search’s quick start, Hupp said. A sticker sitting in a garage does no good, he said. He encouraged other kayak and canoe owners to get them, fill them out and have them on their craft, as Roberts did.

Hupp said people can get the stickers from Coast Guard stations or harbor masters.