The demonstration was part of the Parade of Ships for the annual Seafair festival.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Strohmaier.
ASTORIA, Oregon. — A Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the rescue of two kitesurfers after they were swept out to sea near Damon Point in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Tuesday evening, August 11, 2026.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a notification at approximately 8 p.m., from Grays Harbor Communications 911 Center regarding two people being swept out to sea. Coast Guard watchstanders directed the launch of a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RB-S) boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor, as well as a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew.
After battling low cloud ceilings and poor visibility for 25 minutes, the MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew spotted a woman stranded on a sandbar and hoisted her to safety. The MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was then notified by the Ocean Shores Police Department that a second person was stranded on a rock jetty. The rescue aircrew located the man and hoisted him from the rocks to safety using a rescue basket.
The MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew landed at the Ocean Shores Municipal Airport at 10:54 p.m., and transferred both individuals to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.
The Coast Guard rescued the two kiteboarders after they were swept out to sea.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria.
U.S. Coast Guard Station Greys Harbor.
U.S. Coast Guard Northwest.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
«Two hours is a long time in that wind and water, and they stayed with it,» said Lt. Cmdr. Alex Cardenas, search and rescue (SAR) mission coordinator at Sector Columbia River. «Dispatch relayed the call quickly and the aircrew flew a tough approach twice in very limited visibility. The two kiteboarders did the hardest part before we ever got overhead.»
Weather conditions at the time of the search were 12 mph winds, 1-foot waves, 58-degree air temperature, and 55-degree water temperature.
–USCG–
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