Abby Sunderland's attempt to sail around the world

[LikaNui]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Sailing Anarchy is yet another boating media outlet who thinks Abby's voyage was wrong:

"Jeff Casher, technical support staff member for the Sunderland family, shows frustration in the face of unrelenting media pressure outside team HQ in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Abby too shows some frustration in her latest update, writing "There are plenty of things people can think of to blame for my situation; my age, the time of year and many more. The truth is, I was in a storm and you don't sail through the Indian Ocean without getting in at least one storm."
"Abby conveniently fails to mention that these kinds of storms happen roughly every 3-4 days in the Southern Ocean at this time of year, and that they are simply a part of the landscape at 41 degrees South. She seems either genuinely ignorant or just disdainful for the intelligence of her admittedly ignorant fan base when she next writes, "It wasn't the time of year it was just a Southern Ocean storm." Yet every single competent sailor that has passed through these parts would say just the opposite: This is a place you stay away from at this time of year - period - because even the most experienced is going to get the snot beaten out of them - at the minimum. Sunderland is beginning to show the attitude that is going to force her transition from curious spectacle to genuine freak; she's defensive, inaccurate, and blaming the media instead of taking the responsibility on herself for what was undeniably her problem and no one else's. Abby was simply dismasted, not in peril of death. She had multiple EPIRBs, plenty of food and water, hell - she had a working engine and the rig still behind her, but made no effort to rescue herself, as any competent RTW sailor would. GRIBs indicate that she didn't even face anything like the kind of true Southern Ocean storms that have destroyed major ocean racing fleets - merely a nasty gale with an ugly cross sea - something that Abby clearly didn't know how to handle despite knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd face exactly these conditions.
"So she took her sails down, hunkered down below, and waited for the inevitable. And once it came, she pulled the ripcord, hunkered down below, and waited for rescue.
"And now she hunkers down on a fishing boat, waits for her delivery to safety, while her parents wait for the book deals and the talk shows."

[Menehune Man]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Okay, I concede to general consensus...

Guess the best things that have happened to me have been planed, but when going for broke, better? Kinda 007'ish

There are others, though professional that brave dangerous waters for fame...

[LikaNui]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Even Jay Leno is jumping on the bandwagon. From last Friday night's Tonight Show:

How did we know for sure that Abby was a teenage girl?

Her emergency message was "SOS... OMG... WTF."

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Geraldo Rivera had a panel discussion on his show, discussing disturbing allegations re: the conduct and behavior of Laurence Sunderland.

[tutusue]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

I heard the Today Show announce Abby would be on the show this morning. The media frenzy has begun...unfortunately.

[LikaNui]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Latitude 38 magazine had some pretty shocking info on their site today. Here are just some snippets of the much longer article:

Having resided in the confines of a sheltered world, we're not sure if Abby Sunderland yet understands that when she returns to the States, she's likely to face a bigger storm than any she saw in the Southern Ocean.
It's true that much of the general public — knowing as much about sailing in the Southern Ocean as they do about the relationship between credit default swaps and the oil contango — have gone absolutely ga-ga over the perceived exploits of the rescued 16-year-old from Thousand Oaks. But based on a rough survey of Latitude readers — and even the comments of celebrity sailors such as Geraldo Riviera and Dr. Laura — the overwhelming majority of sailors, who Abby might assume to be her natural constituency, are giving her adventure a moderate to vehement thumbs down. If Abby is to take any shelter from this storm, it will have to be in the fact that her parents are the objects of even greater scorn.
And mind you, this was before anyone learned about the role big bucks and fame seem to have played in the proposed circumnavigation. How many of you knew that, before Abby took off from Marina del Rey, an outfit called Magnetic Entertainment of Santa Monica was developing a reality television series called, and we're not making this up, Adventures in Sunderland. It's described as "A family-oriented adventure show, based on the Sunderland Family of Thousand Oaks, CA.
(...)
All along the Sunderland team had been promoting Abby's circumnavigation as soulful. Now there are indications that it was about as soulful from the get-go as Wall Street monetizing subprime mortgages.
And here's a little background you might find interesting. After hearing about Abby's proposed circumnavigation last year, Latitude wrote on August 28 that the whole Sunderland clan should drive to San Diego to discuss the trip with Stephen Mann of the San Diego-based Wylie 39 Tawodi. That's because Mann and Kathleen Torres, also of San Diego, had just completed sailing the same course that Abby was planning to sail. The only difference is that they did the Southern Ocean in the summer while, because of various delays, Sunderland ended up having to try it at the start of treacherous winter.
We bumped into Mann last Friday at the docks of Driscoll's Boatyard in San Diego, where he told us that the Sunderlands did indeed drive down to San Diego to discuss Abby's proposed trip with him. Laurence Sunderland told Mann that it wasn't like they would be going out of their way, because they had to drive to San Diego anyway in order to pick up another $200,000 sponsorship check.
Say what?!
Mann laughed when we expressed shock that there seemed to be a lot of money involved, saying Abby's proposed trip had brought in millions in sponsorship. Skeptical, we demanded to know how he knew this.
"Laurence Sunderland told me." Mann responded.
No wonder money never seemed to be a problem for the Sunderland children's circumnavigations. Indeed, it reminded us of the time we wrote about Zac Sunderland's proposed circumnavigation on the Islander 36 Intrepid. When we quoted Marianne Sunderland, Zac's mother, that the budget was going to be an astonishing — at least to us — $275,000, she all but begged that it be left out of the article.
Mann further told us that even before Abby started her trip, a cartoon character of her had been developed for a children's television show. What's even more amazing is he said that a Southern California newspaper had proclaimed Abby 'Sportswoman of the Year' before she'd even cast off. Say what you will, we think the Sunderland clan's greatest achievement to date has been their genius in marketing.
(...)
Based on his Southern Ocean experience, Mann tried to impress three things on Abby: 1) Do not underestimate the Southern Ocean part of the Indian Ocean — which is where Sunderland's Wild Eyes wound up being dismasted. This was the same advice given to Mann by French sailing legend Isabelle Autissier. 2) Don't leave on a Friday. {An old sailing superstition.} 3) When Abby got in heavy weather, meaning winds over 40 knots, Mann advised her to drag a drogue to prevent the stern from being spun around by waves, something that might cause the main to gybe. This was particularly critical on Abby's Open 40, because in order to carry a huge main, the boat only has running backstays. Based on what happened, Mann speculates that Abby might not have dragged a drogue, the boat might have jibed, which would cause the unsupported mast to collapse. But as he says, that's just speculation.
A boat without a fixed backstay in the Southern Ocean during the winter? Wow, that's more faith than we've ever had in anything!
So yes, it's going to be very interesting when Abby returns to the States. On the one hand, she can expect a royal welcome from most of the the mainstream media, the MTV crowd, the talk-show circuit, the women's magazines, and, of course, the cult-like followers on her heavily censored 'no-negative-or-questioning-comments-allowed' website. (...) Down on the docks and in experienced sailing circles, however, Abby needs to brace herself for a very different reaction. And she's certainly not going to want to read what Latitude readers have to say, as reaction has been running 20 to 1 against her attempted circumnavigation. While no sailor can truthfully doubt Sunderland's cojones, many sailors continue to question whether Abby really has much in the way of sailing skills — even after sailing as far as she has. Given that the Sunderland machine has put out only the most vague and incomplete details of a supposed "lifetime of sailing," more than a few sailors are beginning to suspect that Abby has more or less been an automaton in an unsinkable boat following orders radioed to her by her handlers. Until Abby sails in a more transparent format — a Singlehanded TransPac, for instance — those suspicions are unlikely to be quieted soon.
But the perceived sin most sailors are likely to find most difficult to forgive is that Abby, either by intent or ignorance, put her life at risk, which meant others would likely have to put their lives at risk, all to satisfy what's beginning to look more and more like a lust for fame and money. Starting the circumnavigation was bad enough. Restarting it in Cape Town, which put her in the Southern Ocean in winter, was more than many sailors can bear.
Interestingly enough, in the July issue of Latitude, you'll read about a woman who was attempting to do the same circumnavigation as Abby — but on her own dime and without any publicity. She was also forced to stop in Cape Town because of boat problems. Seeing as winter was fast approaching in the Southern Ocean, this woman, who had already completed a normal solo circumnavigation, decided it was too unsafe and unfair to those who might have to rescue her if she restarted. She'll try again during the next Southern Ocean summer.
It also hasn't helped Abby's standing with sailors that her first communication after being rescued came across as somewhat whiny and self-absorbed, to a large extent because she inexplicably neglected to thank those who had risked their lives — including a captain who had fallen overboard — to save her life. Or recognize the governments and other agencies that have spent hundreds of thousands — if not millions — saving her life. Many sailors also think it's been premature for Abby's team to be thinking about raising money to try to save Wild Eyes — a drive is currently underway via Pay Pal — or think about making another attempt at a circumnavigation, until those who helped save her life are reasonably compensated. Others think that, having been rescued once, she should have to post a rescue bond prior to attempting it again.
As for Abby's parents, Laurence and Marianne, more people, both sailors and non-sailors, have expressed the belief that they should be forced to spend a month in the Southern Ocean before allowing their daughter to do it again. We're personally delighted that Abby will be coming home safe. As we wrote in the last issue of Latitude, that's all we wanted to happen. While we've never been a big fan of Abby's or what we believe were her misguided aspirations, we feel she's too young to be held responsible for the fiasco. In our view, parents Laurence and Marianne are the ones who deserve contempt, if not jail time. And that a particularly hot place in hell is being reserved for people like them, who seem to have pimped their children.

One thing they didn't mention is that Abby wrote on her blog yesterday that she's already started writing a book about her voyage.
The information above about her boat having only running backstays instead of a fixed backstay is something I hadn't heard before, or I would've ranted about the stupidity of that too.
The bottom line seems to be, well, the bottom line. As in $$$. Abby's parents are quickly -- and rightfully -- being compared to the parents of Balloon Boy.

[tutusue]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Teen sailor's family denies plan for reality show
Yah! Right!

[MyopicJoe]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Thanks for the explanations, articles, and links. I can see better why the experienced sailors are upset. If the Sunderlands market and spin this into financial success...it would give my cynical side so many reasons to gloat.

:P

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

The bottom line seems to be, well, the bottom line. As in $$$. Abby's parents are quickly -- and rightfully -- being compared to the parents of Balloon Boy.

Actually, I think Abby's father (Laurence Sunderland) is worse than the Balloon Boy's dad (Richard Heene).

1) Heene's balloon boy stunt was a hoax. It was disgusting to learn how he was willing to put emergency/rescue workers in Colorado at risk just to get his 15 minutes of fame..... But at least Heene wasn't crazy enough to actually let his son float off in a weather balloon.

Larry Sunderland? Well,....

2) On the occasion that Heene actually did put his children in harm's way (storm-chasing Hurrican Gustav), at least he was there with them, putting his own life on the line.

Sunderland? While his daughter was sailing into some horrific winter weather in the Southern Ocean, Larry was safe at home.... negotiating a deal for a reality TV show.

Just to make it clear, I don't hold any contempt for Abby. She appears to be an energetic and ambitious young girl who could have a bright future ahead of her, if her skills, talent, and efforts are channeled properly. My irritation is specifically aimed at her parents.

[LikaNui]

Re: Parents brains missing on round-the-world sail

Just to make it clear, I don't hold any contempt for Abby. She appears to be an energetic and ambitious young girl who could have a bright future ahead of her, if her skills, talent, and efforts are channeled properly. My irritation is specifically aimed at her parents.

I 100% agree with that.

[LikaNui]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

There was an AP interview with Abby today. She talked about how she wants to do the voyage again, but she refused to tell them what actually happened when her mast fell down.
What the

[matapule]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

I have reframed from participating in this discussion because, if one doesn't have something nice to say, it is better to say nothing at all.

[LikaNui]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

Sorry to hear that, Matapule, as I was really looking forward to your input in this thread.

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

There was an AP interview with Abby today. She talked about how she wants to do the voyage again, but she refused to tell them what actually happened when her mast fell down.
What the

Hmmmm.

If Team Abby isn't more forthcoming with these kinds of details, it will only lead to speculation that the search-and-rescue drama was staged. Bloggers are already voicing their skepticism.

Andy Martin

Zeitgeisty Report

Abby did not complete her RTW sail. But the SAR drama and the controversy surrounding the Sunderland clan have all served to upstage Jessica Watson, as far as publicity is concerned. Just now, I did a Google search of "Jessica Watson" which resulted in 3,760,000 results. In comparison, "Abby Sunderland" generates a whopping 119 million results! So if Larry Sunderland was hoping his daughter would one-up the Australian circumnavigator when it came to media exposure, he certainly got his wish. But the problem is that much of this publicity has shown the Sunderlands in a negative light.

Perhaps not incidentally, the company that was marketing the Adventures In Sunderland (Magnetic Entertainment) has taken down the webpage that was promoting both the reality TV show and the documentary about Abby's voyage. The family might have claimed to the press yesterday that it was their idea to nix the reality show deal. But turning down a chance to earn big money doesn't sound characteristic of the Sunderlands, does it?

My hunch: Because of the growing negative publicity, it became apparent that no network would want to be associated with such a show. Even with all the trash that currently gluts the TV landscape today, network execs would probably draw the line at having a reality show about daredevil kids with parents like Larry and Marieanne Sunderland. I can imagine the Sunderlands cooking up risky and dangerous stunts in order to drive up ratings.

[Menehune Man]

Re: Female teen missing on round-the-world sail

There was an AP interview with Abby today. She talked about how she wants to do the voyage again, but she refused to tell them what actually happened when her mast fell down.
What the

That's what I really want to know...
What actually happened?

Because we're all just speculating at this point.