Search called off for missing kayaker

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:54:00 GMT

BY JASON SCHREIBER

The Coast Guard called off its search on Sunday, March 1, for a missing kayaker, one day after his boat was found near an island off the Maine coast.

More than 200 rescue personnel spent the weekend searching the waters off the Maine and New Hampshire coasts in hopes of finding 59-year-old Hamilton “Toby” Wood of Contoocook.

After covering 400 square miles and finding only Wood’s kayak near Boon Island -- several miles northeast of the route he had taken -- the Coast Guard decided to suspend the search at 9:45 a.m. on March 1.

Wood’s family was at the Coast Guard station in New Castle when the announcement was made.

“They were disappointed we were unable to find him, but understand our decision and are appreciative of everyone’s search efforts,” said Chief Petty Officer John Roberts, the officer in charge of Station Portsmouth Harbor.

Roberts said the search couldn’t continue indefinitely and that a “difficult decision was made.”

Friends and family held out hope that he might be found, but that hope turned to grief as the search continued with no sign of Wood.

“He was a wonderful man, a wonderful father and a great outdoorsman,” said Amy Metcalf, a longtime friend, neighbor and business partner.

Wood went missing Friday, Feb. 27. while returning from a kayaking trip to the Isles of Shoals.

Metcalf described Wood as a highly experienced kayaker who had made the trip to the Isles of Shoals many times before, even during the winter.

At one point the Coast Guard had checked on him during the trip when someone who saw him head out in the kayak was concerned that the seas were too rough. The Coast Guard offered to bring him back to shore, but said Wood declined and decided to make the trip alone.

Wood had lunch on Smuttynose Island on Friday, Feb. 27, and notified the Coast Guard around 3 p.m. that day that he was on his way back to Odiorne Point in Rye, which is where he had parked his Subaru Outback.

When the Coast Guard had not heard from Wood by 5:15 p.m., it became concerned and quickly organized the search with crews from Station Portsmouth Harbor, Air Station Cape Cod and the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance. Coast Guard units and the Maine and New Hampshire Marine Patrols performed air and surface searches of the waters and coastline from Rye to Kennebunkport, Maine.

Police and fire departments from New Castle and Rye; and Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Wells, York and Kittery, Maine, joined in the search by scanning the shoreline.

The Coast Guard praised the tireless efforts of the searchers who endured rough and frigid conditions.

“I am obviously saddened we did not rescue Mr. Wood, but I am grateful for the tremendous coordinated effort with our local first responders,” said Capt. Jim McPherson, commander of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

The decision to end the search brought little closure for those who knew Wood.

A father of two boys, Wood was a social worker at Warren Street Family Counseling Associates Inc. in Concord. Metcalf, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at the agency, called Wood a “tremendous therapist.”

Wood often worked in schools, was active in the community and enjoyed coaching youth sports.

“Toby was full of life and energy. People loved him very much,” said Metcalf, who remained with Wood’s family throughout the search.

Hopkinton News : Maine

Search called off for missing kayaker