Ocean City, NJ missing kiter?

[droffats]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/29/us/coast ... index.html

(CNN) A kite surfer may have gone missing on Thanksgiving after falling off a kiteboard near Ocean City, New Jersey.

The surfer, dressed in all black, was last seen drifting out to sea in Corson Inlet after separating from the board on Thursday afternoon, the US Coast Guard said.
Three neighboring Coast Guard stations deployed search crews to find the missing person: Station Atlantic City took off in a 47-foot lifeboat, Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and Station Cape May embarked in a 45-foot response boat.
Search parties found a black and white "Ocean Rodeo Cypher 10" kite in the water but did not locate the board or missing surfer, the Ocean City Police Department said.
"The OCPD has no missing persons reports from family or friends and no property or vehicles were found on the beach in the area," police said. "Our hopes are that the individual safely returned to shore after separating from the kite and prior to first responders arriving to the scene."

Tipsters who know someone who went kite surfing in the area on Thanksgiving afternoon are encouraged to contact the Sector Delaware Bay command center at 215-271-4960

[Wind Runner]

I also posted a link to this in the "safety" thread here... the wind was blowing side-off or offshore yesterday there. Hopefully this person was able to swim back and will eventually realize he needs to tell someone.

[matth]

Oh man....hope all is well....

[Toby]

fingers crossed he made it!

Keep us informed please

[jpkiter]

Just read the kiter checked themselves in with officials a little while ago...
they were able to swim themselves back to shore....whewwww !

[RickI]

It is great the guy is ok, he had a lot of people concerned.** Label your kite and board with your name and address and if you lose either one tell the USCG, Sheriff or other appropriate authority to avoid an unnecessary search.

** https://ocnjdaily.com/missing-kite-surf ... kGQ--6hVBQ


A new kiter lost his life in excessively gusty, side offshore winds 60 miles south, two months ago. He likely didn't know any better about how dangerous the conditions were until it was too late.

This guy sounds more experienced, maybe. He was reported in distress out in the ocean at 3:30 pm as seen from shore. The air temperature may have been in the high 40's and water temp. in the high 50's F (?). The wind readings may not be that reliable as they are all land stations and the wind was side offshore from the northwest. Despite that they seemed to be gusting from the mid 20's to mid 30's, possibly even higher based on some other nearby stations. It would have been dead offshore from the beach. As the wind is running over a bunch of three story buildings, conditions will likely be very punchy, kite yards, then stalls, repeat ... Your kite stalls, hits the water, you get pulled fast offshore, may relaunch it, only to be stalled again, repeat ... It is frustrating, tiring and dangerous speaking from long past personal experience. It was a lot warmer down here though and not remotely close to the temperatures reported up there yesterday.

The choice cost him his kite and a costly SAR effort to the USCG and authorities. It could have cost him his life however. I wasn't up there by way south but the conditions off the beach looked very poor to me, not really rideable. Was anyone up there kiting off a similar beach with high buildings crowding the shoreline?

Just because it's blowing doesn't mean you should be going as the two examples underscore. Particularly NEW riders need to find a good, quality instructor and take adequate lessons. For more experienced guys, excessively gusty conditions are a lot of work and not much fun plus they might just undo you on an unlucky day.

[cwood]

Just plain stupid to go out in off shore wind....no reason for it, dumb decision. Cardinal rule.

[ThickAir]

Coast Guard was searching 16 hours for this clown before he called in and said he was fine. He had been enjoying Thanksgiving the whole time. I hope they bill this fool for their trouble. Rick, wind was straight offshore and cranking hard (close to 40.) Water in the 40s now. Stupidity abounds.

[matth]

Coast Guard was searching 16 hours for this clown before he called in and said he was fine. He had been enjoying Thanksgiving the whole time. I hope they bill this fool for their trouble. Rick, wind was straight offshore and cranking hard (close to 40.) Water in the 40s now. Stupidity abounds.

Exactly!!! if you ditch your gear you should always report immediately to the authorities.. Common sense.

[FauxKitten]

SUPER LAME!!!

I once became detached from my kite and saw it drift out to sea. Called the local Coast Guard as soon as I had the chance to let them know that there was nobody missing connected with the adrift kite. OF COURSE people are going to see a large inflatable kite and call in the cavalry. Seems like plenty of people were considering this kite owner in their actions. Too bad he/she didn’t consider any of them. Glad he/she is safe, but come on!