The Coast Guard saved a group of kayakers who became stranded on an island while on a guided tour.

The seven kayakers headed for the nearest island when high afternoon winds prevented them from returning to Bar Harbor. The group made their way through 15 to 25 mile per hour winds to Burnt Porcupine Island and awaited recovery.

The Bar Harbor Fire Department notified the Coast Guard Sector in Portsmouth just after noon on Sunday. A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Southwest Harbor was diverted from their current case in order to rescue the kayaking group. The seven people and their kayaks were loaded onboard just after 2:00 and arrived safely at the pier in Bar Harbor roughly ten minutes later. No injuries were reported.

Chief Petty officer David Lebrecht, command duty officer for the Coast Guard command center said the group did the right thing. Winds were calm in the morning, but increased as air temperature warmed in the afternoon.

"When the weather changed," he said, "they were smart to call it quits and call for help, instead of pushing on against the elements."

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