Due to strong winds, four kitesurfers were blown out to sea. Nahant firefighters, from left, Austin Antrim and Nick Papagelis responded to the call at Long Beach, rescuing the kitesurfers and aiding in the recovery of their kites, pictured above. Photo by Paula Muller
By Gayla Cawley
NAHANT — Wind, usually a friend to kitesurfers, proved treacherous to those engaging in the sport on Long Beach on Sunday.
Nahant Fire Chief Michael Feinberg said the first report of kitesurfers in distress came in at about 10:43 a.m. Four kitesurfers, one woman and three men who refused to identify themselves, got separated from their kites when they were out on the water, he added.
The kitesurfers told first responders after being rescued by two marine units, a boat and a waverunner containing two fire department personnel each, along with four firefighters in the water, that the wind direction changed abruptly from the storm, carrying them out to sea, Feinberg said. The rescue took about 15 minutes, he said, with two people brought in at a time. There were no injuries.
After the surfers were brought back in, their kites were recovered from the water by first responders. Kitesurfers have an emergency separation device if they can’t control the kites to separate themselves, Feinberg said. The surfers disengaged themselves from their kites with the apparatus and the wind knocked the kites down into the water, he added.
Later, shortly before 4:30 p.m., Feinberg said another call was received for a kitesurfer who had released his kite, but was not in distress. It was just a matter of retrieving the kite, which had been accomplished before crews responded. The wave runner went out and made contract with a kayaker who had helped the surfer. A civilian in their motorboat was also with the kayaker and surfer, and together, the group headed into Swampscott with the kite.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.