California Teen on Solo Sail Around World Feared Lost at Sea

Fox News ^

[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.

[RobRoy]

>>The canoe trip was more remote.<<

Simple tip for canoe trips: When you hear banjo music, paddle faster.

[pepsionice]

Remember Jessica Dubroff....1996? Seven years old...was to be the youngest pilot to fly across the US....crashed....dead. The media got slammed after a day or two...carrying this story that everyone said was stupid. Why not allow five-year old kids to fly? That was the point when the whole story died off.

Three weeks ago...some 15-year old kid climbed Mt Everest. I felt the same way...there will be a 13-year old kid eventually....and he’ll fall to his death....then what?

Might as well allow a 9-year old kid sail alone around the world....just to be different.

I don’t buy any of these stories anymore.

[GeronL]

Kids are not adults.

Parents are suppose to be responsible for their kids.

Some people seem to forget that.

[Monterrosa-24]

I'll say this in defense of her parents. Many parents, perhaps most, are guilty of allowing their children to develop a sedentary life and fall right into the cult of mediocrity. This girl was doing something big. Of course there is risk. But tough times are coming and these typical couch potato teens are not prepared.

[DJ MacWoW]

25 ft. waves..

Nope.

Emergency Rescue Effort is Launched for Teen Sailor Abby Sunderland (16 years Old and Alone)

endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds

Sunderland had been sailing in 50- to 60-foot seas and it was dark when the EPIRB devices were activated.

[21twelve]

“I think they were reasonable and not “dumping.””

Agreed. I would hope that the parents (or the girl) are not in it for the fame or the money. Although I guess I could go for the fame with the girl. Although I am sure she has just the motivation of adventure, to prove to herself her capabilities, to grow. And as I said, it does seem young to me to be out in the middle of the ocean by yourself. Although it is probably just as dangerous for an older person as well by themselves.

She has obviously proven that she is a capable sailor. Of course all it takes is one unlucky blow no matter what the age and the trip becomes life or death. Just like me and my solo journeys if I had gotten lost or broke a leg.

[Sacajaweau]

I would have no problem with her going on this voyage...as long as I had another boat watching over her. Even experienced sailors lose sometimes.

[rahbert]

I salute her courage. I hope she makes it.

I wouldn’t want to live in a homogenized safe adventureless world where kids can’t do anything remotely dangerous.

[fso301]

For those questioning her parents, did you question those of Robin Graham who in 1974 set sail around the World at age 16?

[messierhunter]

Holy cow, I had no idea it could take that long to get help out to her. She’s really out there. Prayers for her safety. Even if she’s ok she’s facing a long time to survive on her own.

[rockvillem]

Jessica Dubroff (God rest her soul) was the first one I thought of too when I saw this story.

Prayers for Abby’s safe return - recriminations can come later.

[GovernmentShrinker]

This IS child endangerment. It’s completely irresponsible. Not just the parents, but also any other adult who actively enabled this insane expedition, should face criminal charges. This is obviously not something the girl just undertook on her own, without her parents’ knowledge or approval — it required a huge amount of money and advance planning. Any responsible parent would have stopped her, and would have threatened legal action against any other adults who were enabling this.

[Viking2002]

This girl has a bigger pair than I do, sho 'nuff. The wisdom of her parents letting her do something like this at her age gives me pause, but if she had enough experience to attempt it to begin with, and hopefully has kept her wits about her, let's all just say a prayer that they get out there and find her bobbing around with nothing more than a bunged-up sail or something. The kid definitely has brass.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Sacajaweau]

She's well versed in all facets of what she's doing. If she wasn't experienced, it would be different.

I'm sure she's remembering tips from her bro from his voyage and she's just fine. And she's hearing our prayers, too.

[Star Traveler]

[messierhunter]

As we pulled the paperwork from her EPIRB registration, we learned that the signal had come from her manually activated EPIRB.

Maybe this is a slightly positive sign as it means she was conscious and able to activate the beacon herself?

[GovernmentShrinker]

She’s SIXTEEN! And frankly, there no sane reason for anyone to do something like this *alone* at any age.

[Sacajaweau]

Same age as my grandaughter. God Speed!!

[Sacajaweau]

I wrote earlier that I would have had another boat with her.

[dancusa]

I remembered Robin Lee Graham’s voyage in the National Geographic in the late 60’s. Started out in 1965 as a 16 year old. It took almost 5 years to sail around the world.