Search to resume for windsurfer
The missing woman's equipment washes ashore in Kaneohe and offers no clues
At first light, rescuers were to resume their search for a windsurfer whose board washed ashore without her in Kaneohe yesterday, five hours after she was scheduled to return to the Kokokahi Sailing Club.
Friends said Monica Weyant, who is in her 30s, is an experienced sailor and windsurfer and has been a member of the club for more than a decade.
She went out into Kaneohe Bay toward Coconut Island about 9 a.m. yesterday and was scheduled to get back an hour later to give her windsurfing board to a friend.
When she didn't return by 11 a.m., Weyant's husband, Dan, went out looking for her on a catamaran. At 1 p.m., he called police and reported her missing.
"She knows the bay," said club officer Chris Laletin. "They're (Monica and Dan) proficient sailors and windsurfers."
Police, the Honolulu Fire Department and Coast Guard searched Kaneohe Bay for Weyant for about five hours yesterday. The fire department also had personnel searching in boats and jet skis.
The search was suspended at 6:15 p.m.
At about 3:30 p.m., a homeowner on Lilipuna Road found Weyant's windsurfing board and its rigging in shallow, near-shore Kaneohe Bay waters. Officials said the board offered no clues on what may have happened to Weyant. Her harness, which should have been attached to her windsurfing board, was not found.
Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said yesterday's conditions on the bay were good -- mostly sunny with moderate winds between 15 and 20 mph.
"It was actually ideal," he said. "And she was an experienced windsurfer."
Friends said Weyant was wearing a wet suit when she went out yesterday. She's described as being 5-foot-2, and about 110 pounds. Laletin said she's never had any problems in the water before.
Weyant also has no known medical conditions, Tejada said.
The fire department's helicopter, Coast Guard and police combed a search area between Kaneohe Marine Corps Base and Kualoa yesterday.