Posted on 07/10/2009 10:48:33 AM PDT by La Enchiladita
Like a lot of 17-year -olds, Zac Sunderland can get a bit tongue-tied at times. Only for Sunderland, it's not on account of hormones or nerves.
"I've been out at sea for a long time," says Sunderland, who has nearly reached his goal of becoming the youngest sailor to single-handedly circumnavigate the earth in a sailboat. "You kinda forget how to talk. Sometimes I'll get into a port and it'll take a week before the words I'm wanting to say can come out of my mouth the right way. It's annoying."
Sunderland, who has yet to get his driver's license, has spent the past year braving treacherous seas, outrunning Indonesian pirates and being bloodied by hailstones during his 26,000-mile voyage. He is currently working his way northward to California, sailing up the coast of Mexico's Baja peninsula. "If I catch a good wind, I hope to be there by July 14," he says, speaking by satellite phone from the cabin of his 36-foot Intrepid.
Sunderland left on his voyage June 14, 2008, from Marina Del Rey, Calif., heading toward the Marshall Islands in Micronesia. Asked if he thinks his parents (who live in Thousand Oaks, Calif.) are nuts for letting him embark on such a high-risk adventure, he can be heard laughing over the static and crackle of his phone. "I've been sailing all my life," says Sunderland, who grew up on boats with his shipwright father, mother and six siblings. "This is a natural thing for me to be doing. I feel comfortable out at sea, but things can get crazy at times."
Sunderland met up with pirates last October off the coast of Indonesia...
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
Thanks for joining us, Theo. Here goes latest news:
SoCal teen BACK IN US WATERS in record attempt
By Bernie Wilson – 3 hours ago
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Southern California teenager Zac Sunderland has sailed back into U.S. waters, meaning he has only about 100 miles to go to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.
Sunderland pulled into San Diego overnight to clear customs and get his motor repaired. The 17-year-old uses the motor for going into and out of ports, and needs it in case of emergencies.
He hoped to be under way again by Monday afternoon. After a slow trip up the Mexican coast, Sunderland is due in Marina Del Rey, in the Los Angeles area, on Thursday morning.
Sunderland was 16 when he left Marina Del Rey on June 14, 2008.
awesome news......praise God for Zac’s safety
IT’s not for everybody, that’s for sure.
Have you seen “Apocolypse Now?” Martin Sheen in the Saigon hotel captures it well. Change “jungle” for “ocean.”
“When I in the jungle, all I can think of is getting home. But after I’m home, all I can think of is the jungle.”
WOW! I'm envious of both your skill and free time! I've done a few Boston Whalers and the like, but nothing I'd take across the deep blue seas!
Thanks for the update! Way to go Zac!
How long does it take for sleep deprivation to induce the hallucinations?
I am sick with worry about this child. He is about to cross the Atlantic with hurricane season starting up:
Mike Perham - Still Making Repairs in Panama
Monday, July 13 2009 @ 12:01 PM EDT
Contributed by: Don Winner
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Mike Perham, the 17 year-old vying to become the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the world alone and unassisted, is still in Panama and making repairs to his boat the TotallyMoney.com.
As you can see in the image he found a broken “jaw tooth shackle” in his rigging, and it would have been unsafe to continue the voyage without first having that repaired.
The part arrives today, shipped via overnight pouch from the United States. Mechanics are also working out some lingering problems with the motor. After replacing a fuel pump the motor now runs, but after awhile it begins to vibrate so they will be working on that as well today.
Mike is now hoping to transit the Panama Canal on Wednesday, 15 July 2009, and then to head out into the Caribbean to begin his trek towards his home in England.
Here’s a video Mike shot from high on the mast of his boat:
Another worrisome story for this child that happened this morning:
Heavy Rains Soak Panama City This Morning
Wednesday, July 15 2009 @ 09:33 AM EDT
Contributed by: Don Winner
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - At about 7:00 am this morning a “bigger than normal” rainstorm swept through the capital of Panama City in the Republic of Panama. Although residents are accustomed to seeing exceptionally heavy rains and big electrical storms, it’s relatively unusual to see a “front” come through with the associated differences in atmospheric pressure, big dark clouds, and strong winds.
As we scrambled for the car my son noticed “the rain is much colder than normal,” meaning the clouds are bigger and the rain is probably falling from a higher altitude (which prompted a discussion about hail.)
Many people got relatively scared and nervous as the storm came down on the city because the clouds blocked out the sun and it got very dark for a while.
A few trees were blown down, at least one transformer blew up and part of the city was without power. And as usual the heavy rain flooded some streets and rush hour traffic was a mess.
So, even in the middle of the “rainy season” a storm like this is enough to capture anyone’s attention. And I’ve noticed over time these are exactly the kinds of what I call “breeder” systems that will then head north and sometimes turn into tropical storms and hurricanes. If you have the time watch this system over the next couple of days and see if it turns into a named storm. After all, ‘tis the season and all that.
Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
He’s not a “child.” He’s a 17-year-old young man.
If you get to that point, you’ve gone too far! I haven’t had sleep dep. hallucinations since frogman school, adn then people are more or less watching you. My only solo sailing was from Panama to Hawaii to Guam, and that is so far out of shipping lanes (except for leaving Panama, but you’re well rested when leaving) that you just don’t worry about ships. Crossing the Caribbean solo (like this teen) would for sure be extremely risky, and the radar alarms would be a must.
George Washington was out surveying the Virginia wilderness when he was 16 years old.
Would this guy have run into any problems in any port based on him being legally a minor?
I don’t think so. There’s no age limit I know of. If you own a boat, you just sign the papers where it says “MASTER.”
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