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Man rescued 11 days into attempt to go from California to Hawaii by kayak

A kayaker who hoped to paddle from California to Hawaii abandoned his plans when his solar panel failed.

By Frances Burns
A man who had already abandoned his attempt to make the 2,400-mile trip from California to Hawaii by kayak was rescued 60 miles offshore. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
A man who had already abandoned his attempt to make the 2,400-mile trip from California to Hawaii by kayak was rescued 60 miles offshore. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 11 (UPI) -- A man who had already abandoned his attempt to make the 2,400-mile trip from California to Hawaii by kayak was rescued 60 miles offshore.

A Coast Guard helicopter found the 57-year-old kayaker Tuesday morning after he sent a distress call. A cutter was dispatched to bring him ashore.

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The man was about 60 miles southwest of Point Conception in Santa Barbara County.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Hall of the Coast Guard command center in Long Beach said the man was well-prepared for the trip. His kayak had a solar panel to recharge electronic equipment.

But the solar panel failed Saturday and the man decided to head back to shore. He called for help after he became disoriented.

"A voyage from California to Hawaii is a long and treacherous journey for any vessel and exponentially more dangerous for a kayaker," Hall said in a news release. "His preparedness allowed him to call for help, but he is lucky to be alive."

A friend told the Los Angeles Times the man left Monterey on May 30. He was not injured during the trip.

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