That little yellow dot in the middle is her approximate location.
It's hard to be further away from land - unless you count Antartica.
Posted on 06/11/2010 1:44:41 AM PDT by naturalman1975
AUSTRALIA will to pay for its part in the search and rescue of teenage solo sailor Abby Sunderland who encountered extremely rough weather in the Indian Ocean.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority chief executive Mick Kinley said searchers saw and made radio contact with Abby just after 4pm (AEST) on Friday.
"She sounds like she's in good health, as far as we can tell, and she's going to hang in there,'' Mr Kinley told said in Canberra.
Australian authorities commissioned a Qantas plane to search for Abby, who is about 3700km off the coast of Western Australia.
Mr Kinley did not say how much the rescue mission would cost, but said there would be no attempt to recover costs.
Abby's emergency beacon went off outside Australia's search and rescue region, in the region of La Reunion and La Reunion asked Australia for assistance.
The boat then drifted into Australia's search and rescue region. Australia is now co-ordinating the rescue mission.
When asked if Australia would seek to get the money back, Mr Kinley said: "No, that's the way the system runs.
"We would expect people to rescue any Australian yachtsman in these conditions," he said.
"It's our obligation to do this and we'll fulfil those obligations as Australia does."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
THe story linked by DRUDGE says they are receiving signals from her but seem not to know her position. How can that be?
I can’t understand why there hasn’t already been a helicopter there pulling her out of the water.
Helicopters can’t go that far.
We’re talking about 2000 miles from any significant landmass.
Probably afraid of Obama’s kicking their ass.
Mast-less, no ability to navigate, 2000 from land. Ship dispatched to get her. How many days will it take to get to her? This isn’t over yet, unfortunately.
All this cost borne by taxpayers of Australia since a 16 year old decided to cross the Indian Ocean during their most stormy season and warnings not to do so.
That little yellow dot in the middle is her approximate location.
It's hard to be further away from land - unless you count Antartica.
Hell... soldiers have lied and gone to war at this age.
At 18, it might be regarded as entirely her decision, whether sensible or not.
At 16, her parents had the right to make the decision and in the view of a lot of people they should have had more sense.
I joined the Navy at 15 - but my legal guardian still had to sign the papers.
Whitey country.....
The Aussies certainly have experience with heavy seas rescues.
This is the first I have heard she has made contact since running into trouble. Am I correct, she is alive? This is the first I have heard the news.
Lots of reason, not the least of which is a helicopter does not have that range.
And...it is still a very barren world in many parts, including the South Indian Ocean.
Thanks for posting that map of her approximate location.
An Australian jet has made contact with her. She is dismasted and adrift, but is alive and well. The nearest ship should reach her in about 22 hours from now.
Thanks for the confirmation and additional information. This is really nice news.
http://www.amsa.gov.au/About_AMSA/Corporate_information/Recent_Events/2010/June-WildEyes.asp
“Hell... soldiers have lied and gone to war at this age.”
Such a thing may be called selfless.
A soldier does not expect someone to come and get him when the going gets predictably rough.
She does not in any way manner shape or form compare with a soldier. What she did she most likely did for glory; perhaps after watching too much television.
Because Drudge hasn't updated his links yet... he only has the old news - not the reports that confirm that Abby was able to radio the Quantas plane.
Wow, I didn’t know it was possible to be that far from civilization, and I’ve been through West Baltimore...
You didnt answer it all. If she had done this at 18 the cost is acceptable?
It ain't fair to make you folks pay for this “fool's errand”
that her parents should have stopped...
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