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Abby Sunderland's attempt to sail around the world

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  • Abby Sunderland's attempt to sail around the world

    Last month Australian teenager Jessica Watson safely returned from her solo voyage around the world. But...
    Southern California teenager Abby Sunderland was reported missing yesterday, halfway across the Indian Ocean. Not just one but both of her EPIRBs (emergency position indicating radio beacons) sounded alarms yesterday just an hour after she spoke to her parents. No communications have been received since and a search is underway.

    http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/...6-10&dayid=437

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/10/mis...ex.html?hpt=T3

    I've stated here before that I think it's shameful for parents to allow children to undertake such dangerous adventures alone, but for now, let's all pray for her successful recovery.
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    That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

  • #2
    Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

    Best of luck for this girl.
    The day's of barnstorming over-eager kids should have ended long ago.
    https://www.facebook.com/Bobby-Ingan...5875444640256/

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

      Indian Ocean - pirates?
      "Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."
      – Sydney J. Harris

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      • #4
        Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

        Originally posted by anapuni808 View Post
        Indian Ocean - pirates?
        That was my first thought as well, but she's 2,000 miles east of Madagascar, 2,000 miles west of Australia and 500 miles north of the French Antarctic Islands. Waaay too far offshore for pirates.
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        That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

          For these "solo" journeys, are they normally allowed to have a ship follow them, as long as no assistance is given? If not, is it a rules thing or an economic thing?

          As far as the age thing, it depends on the child. Not too long ago, children had to be "adults" before they were 18. Now-a-days some kids don't become "adults" until their mid-20s. If the child demonstrates the physical and mental abilities to take on the challenge, then more power to them. If the child is NOT ready and it's done merely as an ego or prestige thing, then bad on the parents.

          As far as the alone thing, which LikaNui cited as the thing bothering him, I would have thought the parents would fork over the cash to have a boat follow their child, unless it was a world record rule thing. But then in that case, the parents could have said, "We value our daughter's life over an award, we'll have a ship follow her anyways."

          Unfortunately fame and prestige seem to be one of the more powerful motivating factors. Without them, perhaps less would be accomplished in the world.

          /shrug
          "By concealing your desires, you may trick people into being cruel about the wrong thing." --Steven Aylett, Fain the Sorcerer
          "You gotta get me to the tall corn." --David Mamet, Spartan
          "
          Amateurs talk technology, professionals talk conditions." --(unknown)

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

            Originally posted by MyopicJoe View Post
            For these "solo" journeys, are they normally allowed to have a ship follow them, as long as no assistance is given? If not, is it a rules thing or an economic thing?
            I'd have to research that to see if escort boats are allowed during record-setting attempts. Very few of these round-the-world voyages are done to set records. I don't recall any that had escort boats, whether record attempts or not.
            It's not feasible to have a powerboat as an escort, as they simply don't carry enough fuel to travel those incredibly long distances.

            As far as the alone thing, which LikaNui cited as the thing bothering him, (...)
            No, it's the AGE thing that bothers me. Whether it's one 16-year-old or ten of them on the boat, I'm against it. It's child endangerment.
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            That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

              Abby Sunderland's blog is at http://www.soloround.blogspot.com . Her family posted about the emergency, but so far nothing that you haven't read in the other links I gave.
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              That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                Originally posted by LikaNui View Post
                That was my first thought as well, but she's 2,000 miles east of Madagascar, 2,000 miles west of Australia and 500 miles north of the French Antarctic Islands. Waaay too far offshore for pirates.
                yeah, she is further south than I thought. and from the news reports it's seeming more like bad weather may be involved. apparently she told her parents that the winds were 40 mph or more. and she is on a 40 ft boat - thats a lot of boat to handle by yourself.

                oh, and i didn't mean the Somali pirates - I was thinking of the others in the northern part of the Indian Ocean - I think more from Malaysia.
                "Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."
                – Sydney J. Harris

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                  Originally posted by LikaNui View Post
                  it's the AGE thing that bothers me. Whether it's one 16-year-old or ten of them on the boat, I'm against it. It's child endangerment.
                  The age issue doesn't bother me as much as the ambition to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe. I already stated my concerns about how this quest was a disaster waiting to happen.

                  The Sunderland family kept insisting that Abby was fully prepared to accomplish this feat and ready to take on all the challenges. I could almost believe this statement..... except for the fact re: the timing of her trip, which put her in the Indian Ocean during the very treacherous winter storm season. Gee. If the Sunderland family was thinking safety first, wouldn't they have encouraged Abby to set sail at a more ideal time? Or was the desire for Abby to become the youngest circumnavigator so great that they were willing to take that added risk? If Abby doesn't make it through this in one piece, these are some very tough questions that will haunt the Sunderland family for the rest of their lives.
                  This post may contain an opinion that may conflict with your opinion. Do not take it personal. Polite discussion of difference of opinion is welcome.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                    Originally posted by anapuni808 View Post
                    she is on a 40 ft boat - thats a lot of boat to handle by yourself.
                    Abby's boat is an Open 40, which is a full-on (and fairly stripped out) screaming racing machine specifically built for singlehanded racers. (There are also Open 50s and Open 60s. I want a 60!)
                    In comparison, Jessica Watson's boat was an S&S 34 (Sparkman & Stephens), a heavier, slower, comfortable cruising boat.
                    Jessica was in a Ford, the missing Abby is in a Ferrari.

                    (Qualifier note: most of my 30+ years of long-distance singlehand racing and cruising was in my 43' double-ended cutter, though I also did some in the 50-footer I had after I sold my 43. The biggest was an 84' cruising boat I delivered singlehanded from San Francisco to San Diego. Electric winches and a good autopilot made it quite simple, as did a full package of NoDoz and some wickedly strong coffee.)

                    oh, and i didn't mean the Somali pirates - I was thinking of the others in the northern part of the Indian Ocean - I think more from Malaysia.
                    I knew that was what you meant. The Somali pirates rarely go more than 20 miles offshore, not the 2,000 miles where Abby is.
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                    That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                      Frankie, you make a good point about the timing of the trip, weatherwise. Another 'timing' factor is that Abby and her family only bought the boat last October. It was on the east coast, so they had to put it on a ship to get it around to the west coast, then do all the extensive prep work (rigging, electronics, sails, et al) and get it all done in time for her to leave in January. Three months is an extremely difficult time frame for all of that even for someone with heavy financial sponsorship, which she didn't have.
                      And worse yet, part of that preparation was repairing some pretty bad fiberglass delamination of the hull. If it turns out that the hull broke up in the bad weather she's been in the past few days, well...
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                      That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                        Abby has been found and she's okay, thank goodness. But her voyage is over.

                        http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6570719.shtml

                        (CBS/AP) A family spokesman said late Thursday night searchers had contacted a 16-year-old Southern California girl who was feared lost at sea, and she is alive and well.

                        William Bennett with "Team Abby" said searchers aboard an Airbus A330 spotted Abby Sunderland boat in an upright position and made contact with her via radio. Bennett said Sunderland said she was doing fine and had plenty of food.

                        He said a fishing vessel was en route to pick her up.
                        This post may contain an opinion that may conflict with your opinion. Do not take it personal. Polite discussion of difference of opinion is welcome.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                          HOORAY!!!

                          On Abby's blog, here's what her parents just posted:

                          "Abby is Fine!
                          We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!
                          We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know.
                          More updates as news comes in.

                          Laurence & Marianne "


                          Fantastic news! Imagine how ecstatic Abby must be. For this to happen less than 24 hours after the alert and 2,000 miles offshore, is highly unusual.
                          So, she got dismasted, apparently. She may have pitchpoled or perhaps an accidental jibe. Looking forward to hearing the story.
                          Don't know if someone will attempt to tow the boat (unlikely), if they'll just let it drift off into the sunset, or (the smartest move) ram it and sink it so it doesn't present a hazard to other mariners.
                          In any case... HOORAY!!!
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                          That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                            Originally posted by LikaNui View Post
                            It's not feasible to have a powerboat as an escort, as they simply don't carry enough fuel to travel those incredibly long distances.
                            Ahhh, that makes sense. From what you guys have written, the family sounds loaded. I'm sure they can rent a nuclear powered ship


                            No, it's the AGE thing that bothers me. Whether it's one 16-year-old or ten of them on the boat, I'm against it. It's child endangerment.
                            Ah, I misread what you wrote. Thanks for the clarification.
                            "By concealing your desires, you may trick people into being cruel about the wrong thing." --Steven Aylett, Fain the Sorcerer
                            "You gotta get me to the tall corn." --David Mamet, Spartan
                            "
                            Amateurs talk technology, professionals talk conditions." --(unknown)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

                              Australian Search & Rescue has contacted Abby - she is ok. Seas are abating and a ship will be there to help her in 24 hrs. apparently her rigging is down.
                              "Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."
                              – Sydney J. Harris

                              Comment

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