Posted on 06/10/2010 1:03:56 PM PDT by devane617
BREAKING NEWS - ABBY SUNDERLAND NOW MISSING AT SEA!
Grind TV reports that 16 year old Abby Sunderland, who had been attempting to sail around the world alone is now missing at sea. “Sunderland,” says Grind TV, “endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds Thursday before conditions briefly abated.
“However, her parents lost satellite phone contact early this morning and an hour later were notified by the Australian Coast Guard that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices had been activated.
“One is apparently is attached to a survival suit or a life raft and meant to be used when a person is in the water or aboard a life raft.
“Abby's father struggled with emotions and said he didn't know if his daughter was in a life raft or aboard the boat, or whether the boat was upside down.
"’Everything seemed to be under control,’ Laurence Sunderland said. ‘But then our call dropped and a hour later the Coast Guard called.’"
(Excerpt) Read more at thecypresstimes.com ...
They should the parents off on a two person raft...alone...to find their daughter. Couple of idiots.
Lots of idiot parents are much too smart to let their 16-year-old daughter do anything this stupid.
If she doesn’t make it, she and her parents deserve a Darwin Award.
I am waiting to hear the outcome. I suspect we will one of two things.
A life raft bobbing about with this young lady waving at the rescue crew.
Or
Sitting in the cockpit of a dismasted boat, munching away on breakfest waiting for a ride home.
I cannot imagine what the boat cost before the refitting....
She's not going to get "non stop" because of the auto pilot failure, so a tow and reset the mast and she can be on her way again.
Military will pick up and normally won't tow.
A sea-going tug would cost more than the boat is worth.
So, once transport is at hand, she should scuttle the boat and wish her dreams goodbye for a year or two.
OTOH, there reports of abandoned sailboats that were found afloat even years after being abandoned.
For all the posts saying her parents were crazy, people do know that their son sailed around the world unassisted at the same age?
One out of two then. Fails to equal replacement rate.
The species would be extinct with this model.
I would guess not.
THe boat has 5 watertight compartments, yada, yada, yada.
I suspect the Chatter flight folks will talk to her of short range VHF, find out she is fine and the fishing boat will have a young passenger who might benefit by learning some French on the way home....
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