After search, missing Central Coast kayaker found safe — at his hotel

The United States Coast Guard and Santa Barbara’s Harbor Patrol launched a search for a possibly missing person off the Santa Barbara Coast Saturday night, after an adult male rented a kayak and did not return it.

On Sunday, the Santa Barbara Police Department confirmed the man had been located safe at a hotel.

Authorities said the man had rented the kayak from a business at the harbor earlier Saturday and was expected to return the vessel by 5:30 p.m., but did not.

The “extensive search” began just before 8:30 p.m. around the area of Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, after the Coast Guard received a report a person hadn’t returned a rented kayak, according to spokespeople with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department and the Police Department.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Cory Cloud said the Coast Guard had requested drone usage in the area.

Due to concerns about the man’s whereabouts, “out of precaution, there’s a search underway,” a police spokesperson said Saturday night.

“The male was later located at his hotel and found to be unharmed,” according to an update Sunday afternoon from a police lieutenant.

No additional information was available.

This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 12:04 PM with the headline "After search, missing Central Coast kayaker found safe — at his hotel."