No way. We have search and rescue all over the world. You going to stop having fun because you are afraid of the cost of being rescued. That is what search and rescue is for. To rescue adventuresome humans.
The alternative to an adventurous spirit.
Posted on 06/11/2010 6:01:21 PM PDT by NoLibZone
What were her parents thinking? Many people were asking that question as a 16-year-old girl sat adrift and alone in the frigid southern Indian Ocean, her ship's mast dashed along with her around-the-world sailing effort.
Abby Sunderland's ship was rolling in 20- to 30-foot waves as she waited to be rescued by a boat that was expected to arrive early Saturday morning Pacific time.
She set off a distress signal Thursday after rough seas disabled her ship and her satellite phone reception. There were 20 hours of tense silence before a search plane launched from Australia's west coast made brief radio contact with Sunderland and found her alive and well Friday morning.
"The aircraft (crew) spoke to her. They told her help was on the way and she sounds like she's in good health," said Mick Kinley, acting chief of the Australia Maritime Safety Authority, which chartered a commercial jet for the search.
"She's going to hang in there until a vessel can get to her," Kinley told reporters in Canberra.
Many people criticized Sunderland's parents for allowing the high-risk adventure, one of several by young people looking to make the record books. Some veteran sailors said it's all but irresponsible to send a teenager off alone in a small boat, knowing it will be tossed about like a toy for 30 or more hours at a time by the giant waves that rake the Southern Hemisphere's oceans this time of year.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
0ne other thing, she’s alive as of the sighting. One good wave and she might not be there when they get there— the beacon still pinging. My overall view is this was poorly planned, and while quite romantic to many posting here, many of whom relate emotionally to the adventure but have never sailed in the open ocean, it was extremely foolhardy to place a 16 year old in charge. Speaking in the modern sense. 16 year olds fought in the Revolutionary War and many others- teenagers will take uncalculated risks. There is something to be said for home schooling versus “no risk” government school non learning.
Go right ahead and keep digging.
You are thinking along the same lines as I. Publicity, a reality series. The yacht business isn’t the greatest these days. In the abstract I admire the tenacity, but in the reality I despise the foolishness of people placing themselves in harm’s way to “feel alive” or prove something. There are very real dangers and very real heros. But these do not fit the mold of TV 24/7 desperate for an audience. We should all blow up and disconnect from this media.
I think the basis of the criticism needs to be considered. In general I agree- criticism is out of line. But criticism becomes specific and on target, when one considers that parents are in fact, the responsible party.. and as such there should have been a heck of a lot more planning if one is going to put a teenager in open ocean, alone with or without GPS, beacon, satcom phone, whatever. And with or without commercial sponsorship (Shoe City?) The sea takes it’s share and is not to be dallied with.
Having under 18's engage in hazardous work used to be the norm. And it did produce a hardier American.
Children perished at very young ages on farms and in factories and mines.
But that was expected because if you didn't work in those conditions you would likely starve to death, if you didn't die of disease.
This was a publicity stunt funded by wealthy, attention seeking parents...and now subsidized by taxpayers.
Sure seems that way to me.
Its funny how many in here are bashing her family for being wealthy. Bashing her for being home-schooled. etc...
I had to check my web address real quick to make sure I didnt acccidently venture into DU.
No way. We have search and rescue all over the world. You going to stop having fun because you are afraid of the cost of being rescued. That is what search and rescue is for. To rescue adventuresome humans.
The alternative to an adventurous spirit.
Amen. You got it exactly right!
If sailing across the South Indian Ocean alone is not adventure, there is no adventure. You have it wrong.
yeah, the sea does take it’s share. I have followed this a bit and have been changing my views a few times after reading FR posts. one thing I do not see mentioned much is the somali pirate thing going on. I’m not to up on her route tho. would her planned course have taken her anywhere near where those savages routinely operate? damn, that young girl would not be treated well by those bastards if they chose to take her.
I don't care that they're wealthy. That's great.
I'm pleased that they're ambitious publicity seekers, self-sufficient dependent on taxpayers to bail them out.
Bashing her for being home-schooled. etc...
Believe me, I'm a big proponent of homeschooling. But it should not be used to excuse the lamebrained parents.
Your reply made me think of the photos of little children who went down into the mines to pick up clinkers and guide the blind mine ponies. Brave little tykes often killed in cave-ins. You’re right, it is definitely not the same as deliberately placing a child at risk for the sake of the adult’s transcendental evocation of youthful “trials and challenges”.
You get stuck on El Capitan, and have to get rescued— you will definitely get charged for the helo, pilot, fuel and hazard pay of the rescue team. That is now policy in our outbacks.
IMO that's the classic 60's liberal attitude.
Let me be myself and do what I want and someone else will pick up the pieces.
A total disregard for others.
Well you guys can cry about the rescue costs all you want. The Aussies have already said they are paying for it.
So, this argument is moot.
As my teacher keeps telling me it’s a pussy nation now. At least not in this girl’s world though.
More denial of the life and death risks the rescuers took to bail the family press agent out and the taxpayer incurred costs.
Pure sixties liberalism.
The Library of Congress used to have somewhere on their site a vast collection of those images. In a quick search I haven't been able to find them again.
Striking images of desperation and true, quiet bravery that seems lost on the clowns with five minute attention spans.
Some people dont even want to keep score in youth sports anymore because someone’s feelings might get hurt. This generation is being showered with entitlements and being babied by their parents. No wonder the country is going down the drain.
Like I’ve said...you can’t lock your kids in their rooms because you are afraid of them getting hurt and then expect them to just go out there at age 18 and expect them to figure out how to survive.
If kids today had the motivation this girl has the future of this country would be a lot brighter than it is today.
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