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.
I’ve done it plenty of times when I was flying for the USAF Air Rescue service. Our UH-1N’s didn’t all have winches. It gives you better 360 visibility in low light conditions and unencumbered use of your dominant arm.
True. Profoundly irresponsible parents. Prayers are up for sure as God is sovereign.
Yes. They have. Her route was chosen to mostly avoid routes with a lot of shipping. Her brother did go through areas where there was a greater fear of piracy. There were times when he would not report his position for days because of this fear. He was armed. I assume she is too.
ML/NJ
>>> Rescue but bill for services.
Amen - including every idiot that ventures out into an Iowa winter storm and gets their stupid arse stuck in a snowdrift...they need to get more than the tow bill.
Great idea.nobody is entitled to climb MT.Everest or sail around the world with the guarantee of a taxpayer-funded rescue.
I wonder what the annual budget for MT.Hood rescues is?
Wrong. Just because most of the 16 year-old young people that you know are not mature enough to handle this doesn’t mean that they all are. You have no idea of her maturity. I know many 16 and 17 year old young people that I would gladly trust with my life. Not all of us are raising children. A lot of us are raising young adults.
BS
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.
Was it you who kept us abreast of Zac’s progress? It’s been a while, I hope I got that right, and I hope I spelled your screen name correctly. :)
ML/NJ
AMEN
and prayers up
It's al baby, creator of the stuned beeber. everything is a joke.
hi al.
What happened to her?
Aside from stupidity, as Joran Van der Sloot.
You got that right! What a stupid idea.
I hope they find the kid safe. There’s not many worse predicaments than to be far from land on a small boat and lose control of the situation.
Mother Nature is a cruel, unfeeling force.
as Joran Van der Sloot = “ask” Joran Van der Sloot.
Sorry.
At her age, her parents paid for everything. Therefore, her parents have a responsible hand in this and have to take the blame if she is lost at sea.
There is a wonderful word in our English language. The word is “no!”
So 16 is ok but then a 14 year old tries it, then it’s a 12 year old wanting to beat the 14 year old then a 10 year old wants to beat the 12 year old.
Where does it end?
I hope she is ok but this whole quest for being the “youngest” to do something always gets out of hand.
Just some rich kid doing their sailing hobby.
I hope she’s okay, but this isn’t “history.”
P.S.
If she should happen to be rescued, the family should be billed for every penny…..If she is not found, the family still needs to be charged for all money spent.
Wrong. Maturity has little to do with it. Circumnavigating the globe is an issue of experience. There’s no way you can convince me that a 16 year old has acquired the years of knowledge and experience needed to safely undertake such an endeavor.
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