Search for missing kayakers off Vancouver Island expands into U.S.

Kayakers Daniel MacAlpine (left) and Nicholas West (right) are seen in these images handed out by the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.

Authorities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border resumed search efforts Monday to find two men who went missing while kayaking off Vancouver Island over the weekend.

Mounties say Daniel MacAlpine, 36, and Nicholas West, 26, were travelling in a blue, two-person kayak from the small D'Arcy Island to Island View Beach Park, north of Victoria, at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.

When the men failed to arrive at their destination, a search was launched, leading to the discovery of their abandoned kayak approximately six kilometres away on Henry Island, Wash., on Sunday.

"As a result of that, Washington state authorities have been heavily engaged, as well, to try to find the two men on their end," B.C. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy told CTV News on Monday.

The RCMP say the main search effort is now concentrated farther south in Haro Strait near San Juan Island and Lopez Island, both in Washington state, while the RCMP's West Coast Marine Services unit would search the area of Coal Island, near Sidney, B.C.

"The search is continuing on this side of the border, as well," Grandy added. "But given that information and where the kayak was essentially recovered recently, a lot of it is being conducted on the United States side of the border."

The U.S. Coast Guard says it launched a helicopter from Port Angeles, Wash, on Sunday to search the area where the paddlers went missing until a Canadian search-and-rescue helicopter arrived to continue the search.

"Port Angeles conducted their search patterns with negative results," the U.S. authorities said in a statement to CTV News. The Canadian Coast Guard has not responded to a request for comment. This story will be updated if and when a response is received.

"At the time of this update, there have been no signs of both missing men," Mounties said in a statement.

MacAlpine is described as a white man standing approximately 5'10" tall and weighing 150 pounds. West is also  described as a white man standing approximately 6'5" tall and weighing 170 pounds.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is urged to contact the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP at 250-656-3931.