Posted on 06/10/2010 10:19:33 AM PDT by ml/nj
A rescue effort has been launched in hope of finding Abby Sunderland, 16, who set off her emergency beacon locating devices from the southern Indian Ocean early this morning.
Sunderland, who had been attempting to sail around the world alone, endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds yesterday (Thursday local time) before conditions briefly abated.
However, her parents lost satellite phone contact early this morning and an hour later were notified by the Coast Guard at French-controlled Reunion Islands that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices had been activated.
One apparently is attached to a survival suit and meant to be used when a person is in the water or 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."
Abby is hundreds of miles from land. The rescue effort is being coordinated by the Reunion Islands and Australia. Sunderland had been sailing in 50- to 60-foot seas and it was dark when the EPIRB devices were activated.
The Sunderlands are asking people to pray for their daughter, a high-school junior from Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Abby was for several months one of two 16-year-olds attempting to sail around the world alone. Australia's Jessica Watson completed her journey last month, just days before turning 17.
Abby's brother Zac, who graduated from high school, completed a solo-circumnavigation last summer at 17.
The timing of Abby's trip was criticized by some because it was placing her in the middle of the Indian Ocean when the stormy Southern Hemisphere winter was at hand.
Yes, but common sense often will. I feel remorse that the Sunderland family had none.
Just like strapping your three year old in a child seat, or keeping your 16 year old daughter from braving the high seas alone for six months, common sense is the unobtanium of a society more concerned with some unimportant "first" (like sailing around the world at 16) than life.
In post 155 you said that you "would never EVER let my daughter do something like this", but on post 132 you said "If she had the right stuff, and was commmited to doing it, you bet I’d let her do it. Twice."
So which one is it? Would you let your daughter circumnavigate the globe alone in a small sailboat, or not?
But, I see people calling for jail sentences for the parents. Give me a break. Where they foolish, or misguided? Yup. Will it cost them dearly? Probably. But lets leave the power of the State out of it, and offer sympathy to the Sunderlands, and object lessons to future adventurers. But leave the State out of it.
If you want to council prudence I am all for it. I will also. But I won't compel.
The proof is self evident.
Again, that's not what you said earlier.
You said:
"If she had the right stuff, and was commmited to doing it, you bet I’d let her do it. Twice."
So which is it?
In post 155 you said that you “would never EVER let my daughter do something like this”, but on post 132 you said “If she had the right stuff, and was commmited to doing it, you bet I’d let her do it. Twice.”
So which one is it? Would you let your daughter circumnavigate the globe alone in a small sailboat, or not?
You have me confused with somebody else. I would not let her do it... Period. I didn’t say otherwise.
“Sunderland has activated - one attached to her body and another attached to her boat - suggest she is still in the boat.”
Prolly dismasted.
Your prayer is beautiful so, I will simply add an Amen.
I hope we will spend our time until they find her praying for her safety. There will be time afterward, however it ends, to debate the merit of her parent’s decision to allow her to do this. It is unbearable to even imagine what they must be feeling.
How about if it will likely only injure them?
How about if they are only going to get a scratch?
How about if they are only going to get their feelings hurt?
I f'ed up.
Apologies.
You're more reasonable than the other guy. At least you'd stop her.
Partly because Abby was a completly unknown quantity (apart from being Zac's sister). Coincidentally they both announced the voyage to the press 5 months before departure (Jessica in May, Abby in August) but if you look on Google news there is nothing on Abby planning a voyage prior to this, while Jessica is reported earlier at the end of 2008 http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Another-Teen-Solo---15-year-old-Jessica-is-on-her-way/52638.
By the time of the Press conference, she already had the boat, the team, and a plan for a three month refit.
In August, Abby was still two months away from getting the boat, and the fitting out seemed to be a rushed case of doing what we can in the time available.
Then there was the boat. Pink Lady is an S&S34, a classic 4ksb (4knotsh..boat), not fast, but a tough, reliable endurance boat. An ideal boat for a novice sailor. Similar to the old DH82 Tiger Moth trainer aircraft, easy to fly/sail, much harder to fly/sail well. And the design has a proven track record in non-stop Southern Ocean sailing.
Wild Eyes is a racer. It may have been designed for Southern Ocean racing, but not non-stop. Legs shorter, harder to sail, and almost impossible to sail into the wind. It's only advantage is speed in the hands of an experienced sailor. But running SE down the Pacific, Abby was slower than Jessica. Says Laurie's choice was a mistake, made from not understanding the situation
Then there was the backing from other sailors. With people like Don McIntyre, Ian McKiernan, Pete Goss backing Jess it was hard to differ. Nobody had heard of Abby, while every RTW sailor who actually met Jessica believed she could do it. And that was a lot, the impression is that a couple of years ago any RTW sailor in Australia found it hard to avoid a 14/15 year old girl asking "what was it like?", "what were the problems?" What worked? "What didn't?".
Preparation. Preparation. Preparation.
No Problem, it’s easy to make that mistake, Ive done it before.
How about if they are only going to get their feelings hurt?
Now you have gone way to far with that sentence
I’ve got 16 years of sailing experience, and I wouldn’t do it.
Your point is taken.
I think that’s the hard thing - How do you know the difference between genius and massive and unjustified overconfidence?
I for one know I’m too close to my kids to see it, and even if I did I’m too much the selfish coward to let my daughter do it.
My dad who grew up in the 30's and early 40's would spend the summers him and his brother on the rivers of East Tennessee. My uncle or my grandfather would come up and check on them on the weekends. No one though about it being dangerous or neglect. It was a kids dream.
Either one of us my dad or later myself could have gotten seriously injured or killed in doing so. My dad would also w on weekends while in school ride a bicycly about 45 miles to camp out overnight and return home another 45 miles the next day. But the experience stays with you. So does training and I had been taught how to take care of myself camping and even hiking alone. I was taught what was safe, do this or that when this or that goes wrong. It helps you acquire self reliance and confidence on yourself. I can see circumstances where a teenager with the right training and talent could sail alone especially with today's technology in communications and navigation. Not to mention today's boats.
Now a question for the posters blaming and blasting the parents. What kind of cars do you let your kids drive? How about Motorcycles like Crotch Rockets perhaps? Where do you allow them to drive?
I by no means will say the sea can not be brutally dangerous. Been there done that and about bought the farm a few times running 35 and 50 footers in the Navy. I've see seas about break over a carrier flightdeck. But I was still safer there or even on the boats I worked on while anchored in ports than I was back in Norfolk on liberty or living off base driving to the yards every day.
The kid would have to have her act together to make it past the first few nights at sea alone. The being alone in itself is a mental challenge not many adults can handle.
They apparently located the sailor girl.
RE: “I disagree with those referring to Abby as a “daredevil.”
She is young, but an experienced sailor in her own right. Whatever trouble she finds herself in at the moment is not dependent on her age.
Jessica Watson from Australia just finished her solo circumnavigation days before turning 17.
Who am I to step on someone’s dream? A ship in a harbor is safe; but that is not what ships are for.
This is why so many playgrounds don’t even have swings anymore! Someone might get hurt! Pathetic.
Godspeed, Abby.”
*************
Here here!!! Great post - agree totally —
Just saw it and glad she’s OK. This will stick with her and no doubt she’ll be a stronger person for having endured what she did. It sounds like she followed her survival training and had a boat that was built pretty darn solid all things considered.
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