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 ...
In looking at marinetraffic.com, there seems to be a lot of cargo and tanker activity in her general area....hopefully someone will spot her....
Thats the truth. I would just as soon allow my daugher to backpack through Afghanistan.
Prayers for the girl.
Completely and utterly irresponsible that her parents allowed this.
They were then and they are now. With grief I'll wager.
She had another website that was referenced on this thread, too, but that one seems to have been discontinued, in place of this blog that she has now. There was both, before, but now only the blog.
The other one had "tracking" for her and her daily progress... but that's not there now.
She replied “I wondered about that too. But you were very convincing in your abilities, and you were an “old” 15. I look at my kids the same age today and think “no way!”
Although with the back-packing I usually saw people every day. The canoe trip was more remote. Went 6 days without seeing anyone. And of course no cell-phones or anything back then.
Prayers for this young and adventurous girl.
I remember watching a news story on this when she embarked. My first thought was, "Are here parents out of their flipping minds?!"
Well, her brother did that, too and that seemed to be no problem. Others at that age have done it in different places in the world. She grew up in a sailing environment. And also, from reading the other website that she had earlier (it's not there now), the dad says that he initially didn't want to have her go, but that after a couple of years of her insisting and her proving herself by actually going on many runs and handling a boat herself, they did finally agree.
It's not that she was unprepared. And also, they have already had another family member do that (about the same age).
I can understand the backpacking; presumably you were with others and could offer mutual aid. The solo canoe, no, I can’t understand that.
Glad you enjoyed yourself and have good memories. Many such teens do. I do not mean to disparage the parents. Just to sympathize with GeronL’s questions. I think they were reasonable and not “dumping.”
She lit off two EPIRBs by hand. My guess is she’s dismasted, and/or injured. This is not the end of the world. The EPIRBs will lead rescuers straight to her. (They send a GPS location out.) If her EPIRBs are making about 5kts downwind, I’d say she’s in her boat but adrift/dismasted. If her EPIRBs are matching ocean current speeds, she may be in a raft. But a raft is doubtful. Getting in one is extremely risky in those seas. Her drill will be to stay in the boat until it sinks from under her. I’m guessing she’s in her boat, dismasted, hence all other comms (antennas) are down. But her EPIRBs are handheld devices.
I think they’ll find her, and she’ll have a great story to tell. Hopefully she’s not injured. It’s easy to get hurt if the mast goes down, or if your boat is rolled. Real easy.
Oh give me a friggin breaK!
THIS IS INSANE! What is wrong with you delusional people who think this is “courageous” and just a wonderful story on a blog.? SHE IS FRIGGIN 16, A GIRL AND ALONE ON THE OCEAN NEAR AFRICA !!
Her parents are in this for one reason only...THE MONEY FROM THE MOVIE DEALS. But they will make the money anyways, either way.
Its bad enough her parents let her out on this idiotic jaunt with no back up, no follow up ships, etc...but then we have all the maroons reading her ‘exciting blog”.
We have had “Balloon Boy”, now we’ve got “Sail Girl”...Hope all you “reality show morons” are happy.
Just so you know, the waters where her EPIRBs activated are not "piratey." And I would go as far as to say the pirates you are afraid of do not have the vessels or seamanship skill to operate there.
What kind of morons let their child do such a dumb thing?
btt
In fact the odds would be better, I'd bet.
This is the first I heard of this person. I know I would not let my daughter do this, no matter how experienced she was. The world, especially the high seas, is not Pleasantville.
That said, I really hope she’s ok.
"Be friendly and be polite, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet."
Thanks, Jotmo. Updates here: http://www.knx1070.com/
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