Just common courtesy... odd huh?
As I said in another thread:
As anyone who’s been there knows - the best ‘extra payment’ the men and women involved in this rescue can get will be seeing that little girl on dry land.
At least this time, it looks like it will be a happy ending. And to any Americans worried about the cost to the Australian taxpayer - well, consider it a partial payback for all the times the US taxpayer has wound up bailing people out around the world. The fact is, this is what rich, industrialised nations do. At least this time we’re doing it for another rich, industrialised nation. The vast majority of foreigners Australia pulls from the sea are ‘asylum seekers’ sailing here illegally in leaky boats
Yep, help folks out there is what you do. We did a lot of cruising in a 52’ Defever and we would have to be up to rescue whomever being one of the biggest vessels.
AMSA Coordinating Search and Rescue - Wild Eyes
12 June 2010 - 8:00pm MEDIA RELEASE
The rescue of 16 year old US solo sailor, Abby Sunderland, from the yacht Wild Eyes to the fishing vessel Ile De La Reunion was successfully conducted at 7:45pm AEST today - approximately 2000 nautical miles off the West Australian coast.
The rescue, coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC Australia), was conducted with the support of a Global Express aircraft which provided top cover during the transfer and served as a communications relay between Wild Eyes and the Ile De La Reunion. The crew of the Ile De La Reunion conducted the rescue with a boat launched from the fishing vessel.
RCC Australia has notified Ms Sunderland’s family of the successful rescue. Arrangements to land Ms Sunderland will now be negotiated with the three ships that have responded to the distress situation.
International Maritime Organization guidelines indicate that such arrangements should avoid disruption to commercial shipping as far as possible. Since the fishing vessel would suffer a significant commercial penalty from leaving the fishing grounds, it is possible that Ms Sunderland will be transferred to one of the other two ships. One ship is bound for Australia and the other would likely return to its home port at La Reunion.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of operators and authorities, both national and international, that have worked together to successfully conduct this rescue - these include Maritime RCC La Reunion, Qantas, WA Police, Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, Defence and the three ships which are responding.
The Master of the Ile De La Reunion has reported Ms Sunderland is safe and in good health.
Seems some people here are annoyed that she was found.
Pathetic human beings, IMHO.