Posted on 06/10/2010 12:08:52 PM PDT by Dallas59
Sunderland, who had been attempting to sail around the world alone, endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds Thursday before conditions briefly abated.
However, her parents lost satellite phone contact early this morning and an hour later were notified by the Australian Coast Guard that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices had been activated.
One is apparently is attached to a survival suit or a life raft and meant to be used when a person is in the water or aboard 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 nearest ship was about 400 miles away. The rescue effort is being coordinated by the French-controlled Reunion Islands and Australia. Sunderland had been sailing in 50- to 60-foot seas and it was dark when the EPIRB devices were activated.
(Excerpt) Read more at grindtv.com ...
May God protect her!
Pretty girl. I would hate to ber her parents now.
How close is she getting to pirate territory?
Is this the girl that the courts were trying to keep from doing this stunt?
see also:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2531872/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2531917/posts
With 60 knot winds, you don’t need pirates.
She had a good reception in Australia a while back. Hope she gets through this.
Amen, but how responsible is it to allow a 16 year old out on this kind of endeavor, no matter how accomplished she is?
Sixteen years old? And they let her try this without backup — a chase boat, something?
I hope the poor girl lives through this. Her parents should be horsewhipped.
Apparently the story is hot. I’d never let my 16 yo pull a stunt like this no matter how mature they were.
This stuff is great when it works out for that Aussie girl but when things go wrong it is not pretty. This is highly dangerous for an experienced adult.
I hope she is okay but you have to question the parents allowing her to do this.
From the Navy Hymn, verse 1:
Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid’st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea
Based on no information but her previous seamanship skills, I think she will come thru this and be rescued.
I hate to think this but the parents were maybe trying to use her as a meal ticket. First 16 year old girl goes around the world: the book, on talk shows, the lifetime movie, the product endorsements.
sad but you never know could be why they let her do it
I hate to think this but the parents were maybe trying to use her as a meal ticket. First 16 year old girl goes around the world: the book, on talk shows, the lifetime movie, the product endorsements.
sad but you never know could be why they let her do it
I hate to think this but the parents were maybe trying to use her as a meal ticket. First 16 year old girl goes around the world: the book, on talk shows, the lifetime movie, the product endorsements.
sad but you never know could be why they let her do it
60 foot seas, singlehanded with no rest for hours or days in the southern ocean
then along comes a rogue wave
hopefully she is in a raft and will hold out until they find her
Exactly true, I thought that when the sailor girl was welcomed like a heroine in Australia.
I was happy for her, because she was happy, and it was a big accomplishment. But I thought, what if she had drowned? She is not yet an adult.
If an adult decides to sail around the world, he or she is taking on the risk for themselves.
I don’t think 16 year olds should be allowed to do that.
Some feel we make nittering nannys of children by saying, “no.” Well, perhaps. But I just think they can wait until they are 18.
Furthermore, now that a 16 year old has the title, a 15 year old is going to try, and so on.
I believe she was already beaten by another 16 year old girl last year.
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