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Rescue of distressed windsurfer in Tomales Bay a kiteboarder

 
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Riptide



Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 4:26 am    Post subject: Rescue of distressed windsurfer in Tomales Bay a kiteboarder Reply with quote

https://local.nixle.com/alert/5071863/?sub_id=796605

'Henry-One' crew overhears Marin County broadcast for ocean rescue and responds to rescue distressed windsurfer in Tomales Bay.


On 10/3/13, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter, known as ‘Henry-One’ was on routine air-patrol, flying over the Santa Rosa area in Sonoma County.

At 5:47 PM, the flight crew, consisting of Pilot Paul Bradley and Tactical Flight Officer-Deputy Sheriff Chris Mahoney overheard a radio transmission from Marin County Fire Dispatch requesting fire and rescue personnel for an ocean rescue near the mouth of Tomales Bay in Marin County.

Henry One responded along with the United States Coast Guard and Marin County Emergency Personnel.

Within eight-minutes of the ocean rescue radio transmission, Henry-One arrived on scene and the crew immediately located a distressed windsurfer that was in the water just outside the mouth of Tomales Bay. The windsurfer was clinging to his board, intermittently waving his arms, signaling he was in distress.

Pilot Bradley landed the helicopter on the west shore of Tomales Bay and Deputy Mahoney configured the aircraft for a long-line rescue. In a matter of moments, once the aircraft had been rigged for a rescue, Deputy Mahoney attached himself to the bottom of the long-line and Pilot Bradley flew him to the distressed windsurfer. Deputy Mahoney secured the subject in a rescue device and Pilot Bradley flew them, at the bottom of the long-line to shore at Dillon Beach where Emergency Personnel were waiting to assist.

The entire Henry One Flight Crew routinely trains for rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast. The aircraft and crew members always carry water rescue equipment for incidents such as this.

This press release was authored by Lieutenant Tim Duke. For additional information pertaining to this ocean rescue, contact Lieutenant Duke at (707) 565-3586.

Address/Location
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
2796 Ventura Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-565-2650[list=][/list]


Last edited by Riptide on Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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windward1



Joined: 18 Jun 2000
Posts: 1400

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Riptide,
Thanks for posting the above.
If you get more info on the incident, such as: was it an equipment breakdown or what, that caused the windsurfer to be in trouble, maybe something from the windsurfer themselves detailing the account; please post.
Regards,
Windward1
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jse



Joined: 17 Apr 1995
Posts: 1460
Location: Maui

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also, if it really was a windsurfer or a kiter. I was up there yesterday, not at the mouth but at Grassy Pt. Winds were not that strong, 4.5 for me. I know a lot of kiters that go to Dillon, not many sailors.

Steve
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gregnwind



Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

THANKS Again Coast Guard !!!

You guys are quite literally lifesavers !!!

I haven't needed your services & hope I never do. But it sure feels great to know you can be there when needed.
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Riptide



Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My apologies to the windsurfing community.

Once Again the term "Windsurfer" and "Kite boarder" or mixed up.

It was a Kite boarder !

Second hand account:

The guy was a kiter. He spent some time on the Tomales side of the channel. Not the best place to be and pretty hard to rescue. He said to his friends that he was ok and started to self-rescue. The wind kept getting lighter so not much you can do to get to him. He was caught in the ebb and looked like he wasn't making much progress. His friend called the coast guard/ sheriff and they picked him. He looked ok probably a bit cold from the swim.

If you want to play in the Pit, you better fully understand the consequences. The current is super gnarly, the wind will paste your kite to the cliffs and then there's our good friend and neighbor swimming close by.
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tomg



Joined: 10 Apr 2000
Posts: 294

PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One aspect of this is that the chopper belongs to the County of Sonoma not the Coast Guard and was able to be onsite within 10 minutes of the call. I've read that "Henry 1" has done many cliff rescues and saved many mountain bikers throughout Marin and parts of Sonoma Counties.

http://friendsofhenry1.org/index.html


But as we know helos are expensive to operate and it is a constant battle to keep funding in these tight times. Example: City of Oakland - now the most violent city in CA grounded its police chopper to save money.
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kirk



Joined: 10 Apr 2000
Posts: 158

PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:08 pm    Post subject: Title Change? Reply with quote

Thanks for the update.

Riptide wrote:
My apologies to the windsurfing community.
Once Again the term "Windsurfer" and "Kite boarder" or mixed up.
It was a Kite boarder !


How about changing the title to better reflect the incident?

_________________
Best Regards
Kirk Out
http://bayareawindsurfing.blogspot.com/
http://kirklindstrom.blogspot.com/
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