Rescue vessel starts to apparently recover kayak (3)
I believe the answer is:
ark
'rescue vessel' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'starts to apparently recover kayak' is the wordplay.
'starts to' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'apparently recover kayak' is 'ARK'.
(Other definitions for ark that I've seen before include "Noah's ship" , "Noah's craft" , "Rescue boat" , "Flood vessel; box (arch.)" , "Animal rescue transport" .)