Posted on 06/10/2010 1:34:22 PM PDT by Jotmo
Rescuers searched Thursday for a 16-year-old Southern California girl feared missing while attempting a solo sail around the world.
Family spokesman Christian Pinkston said the search began for Abby Sunderland somewhere between Africa and Australia after emergency beacons were activated overnight and there was a loss of communication.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Even if all her survival gear works as Dad says in his post, the water in that area is extremely cold.
Many of us have been following Abby and, before that, her brother Zac. Most posts can be found under keywords: sailing, abbysunderland, zacsunderland.
Her boat is not what I would even consider sailing around the world in.
She needed a Westsail 32 not a fin keel racing sloop.
Poor planing to sail the Southern Ocean in that boat.
“He had an adult in the co-pilot seat”
That incident didn’t cry out to me like this one. There are degrees.
The girl in this case had no one to turn to for help in an emergency.
Yeh if she is not in the boat then she is gone, the survival suit will only cover you for so long and is even if you get it on in time.
“, the waters where her EPIRBs activated are not “piratey.””
I read otherwise elsewhere, on comment threads. Myself I have no personal knowledge about it.
Why don’t we sell the perfume to the poor?
Someone’s going to have to be the first man out to mars and beyond. That persons’ going to need brass balls at a young age.
We need more young people willing to take on anything.
And that she had time to switch on 2 EPIRBs. Perhaps one is in the life raft. If so they will pick her up in a bit.
I recall reading a book with photos and poetry etc. of two young guys that hiked, etc. One of the lines I read to my folks to help convince them to let me do that crazy stuff was something like “But alone out in the Wilderness. That made all the difference in the world.”
The only times I got into trouble was when I was with my buddies and stuff (”Hey - watch this!”)
Agreed!
16? HER PARENTS ALLOWED THIS?
(”Hey - watch this!”)
Yeah something real painful was about 1/2 second away LOL!
In 20’ plus seas, I would doubt that she had time to assemble her emergency gear. Going over the side is truly the last option.
Then I found this: Rescue teams head to stricken teen sailor
AMSA spokeswoman Carly Lusk ...says the signals coming from the two beacons Sunderland has activated - one attached to her body and another attached to her boat - suggest she is still in the boat.
Could it be?
That is why the age of consent is not 16. If a person has had a life where they have built the wherewithal to be able to undertake a journey like this, then go for it.
This is not an adventure that she undertook through her own efforts, but it is an adventure that was supported by others. I would like to see this made illegal for children under the age of 18. There is truly no point to this effort. Grow up, make something of your life and then go adventuring if that is one’s desire.
In 20’+ seas, the pirates would be hanging on as well.
“In 20’+ seas, the pirates would be hanging on as well.”
Certainly, pirates are no danger in a big storm.
But sometimes the sea is calmer, no?
Ummm... my “mental insanity” and “child abuse” comments were directed to the adults who are over 18 (in this specific story) ... :-) ... and thus, like I said, you don’t see them in a mental institution for insanity or in jail for child abuse — precisely because society recognizes that one can make those choices legitimately and rationally ...
Absolutely correct. What kind of parent would thrust his child into a potentially lethal escapade for the sake of publicity? That parent is either stupid or unfit, or both.
This sailing trip aside....
You know people who go SCUBA diving alone? Not anyone rational or PADI certified I'll wager.
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