Two well-equipped and experienced kayakers were recently rescued off Massachusetts by Coast Guard helicopter basketlift and a rescue swimmer in rough seas and high winds.
A pair of VHF radios (one crapped out), pfd’s, drysuits and nearly a dozen flares were key to the rescue.
Neither guy was seriously hurt, but the rescue took nearly three hours, requiring not only the helo but surfboats, a couple of harbormastes, and two local CG stations.
I've got postings on the incident, with comments and additional links, at
http://paddlingtravelers.blogspot.co...nd-rescue.html
(which gives a general overview)
and at
http://paddlingtravelers.blogspot.co...s_archive.html
which gives details.