Posted on 06/13/2010 6:52:35 PM PDT by naturalman1975
THE United States' peak sailing body was so concerned about Abby Sunderland's solo record bid that it refused to sponsor her.
As the young sailor blasted her critics, the American Sailing Association confirmed it had knocked back the teenager's appeal for help, fearing commercial endorsement might encourage her to take too many risks.
"We chose not to be sponsors of Abigail because we did have concerns about the timing of her departure," said executive director Charlie Nobles.
Abby's route placed her in the treacherous Indian Ocean during the notoriously tough winter months.
"She had a lot of sponsors that were behind her and I think that puts pressure on her," Mr Nobles said. "We made a prudent decision not to contribute to that."
.....
Mrs Sunderland, who is pregnant with the family's eighth child, said the family did not have the money to compensate Australian rescue officials, with the rescue costing $300,000, the Courier Mail reported.
"The full cost of chartering an Airbus would be so high, you'd think they would have to work with the US Government for that," she said from her California home.
"We're not wealthy people," she said. "What price would you put on a child's life?"
....
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed yesterday that the Government would not seek reimbursement for the cost of Abby's rescue.
"That is not the way that the law works," Mr Albanese told Channel 10's Meet the Press.
"If there was an Australian lost at sea, we would want the international laws on maritime to kick in and for every effort to be made to save that person."
A spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said that Abby would likely be transferred to one of two other ships heading to the rescue site.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
To make it worse, they are asking people to pay to recover the boat:
Abby’s blog links to that site. Soliciting donations to ‘save Abby’s boat’ while telling the Aussie’s to eat the cost of rescuing their daughter is contemptible, IMHO!
If you visit the site, they are now saying the boat is not recoverable and that they will return donations...but I still find the fact that they quickly set up a site to ask for money to save the boat unacceptable.
And you really don't think that Magellan, and Columbus, and Cook, etc. were not seeking "fame"...wow...LMAO at the naivete of some folks on this forum. If it were up to this crowd Columbus would have stayed home with his mommy and weaved baskets and we would all be speaking Spanish....and the Indians (feather not dot) would have an incredible casino empire here in the good old U.S.A....oh, that's right there would not be a U.S.A....but I'll bet those baskets Columbus weaved would have been bitchin'....LMAO.
I was saying they are completely seperate things. Sorry I wasn’t more clear. I said one is a great thing (astronauts) and one being a silly stunt and death wise like this girl.
“Insult? This young woman, regardless of anyone else around her, embodies that spirit. She was no ignorant foolish girl, for such a child would not be able to pilot a sailing vessel around two continents.
“
I am not really insulting her, actually she seems to be a decent sailor having made it this far. I however have nothing but disdain for her greedy low life parents who put her up to it all for their reality show.
Did he have a reality show backing his publicity stunt too?
Maybe. Maybe not.
In 1968, with no sailing experience, Chay Blyth competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30ft yacht called Dytiscus retiring just past the Cape of Good Hope.
Yep, and Joan of Arc at age 17-19 was just trying to get a "reality show"....maybe we can re-write Western European history because she should have been home playing video games with mommy....LOL at the envious hatred toward this incredible girl and her parents.
Envy?
No I dont envy a family of attention whores seeking fame and fortune...I pity them.
Sunderland is no Joan of Arc. She was trying to save her country. Abby was being self-serving.
Hey there’s a new thread needing your abby support...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2533958/posts?page=49#49
There have been worse reasons for such ventures.
This "incredible girl" and her parents are trying to get a reality TV show. You know, like Ozzy, Jon and Kate plus 8, The Kardashians, you know. Hero type people.
Sunderland "reality" show preplanned before Abby's misadventure
She's a loser, lets hope more like her are not produced. It is much better for teens to stay at home on facebook and play videos. No one gets hurt that way and America will be better for it.
I'm sorry if that's only only kind of kids you know. The teens I know weren't allowed on My Space or Facebook and had few video games, they were too busy doing other things. James and David built their own log cabin at age 15 and 17.
>> I still find the fact that they quickly set up a site to ask for money to save the boat unacceptable.
Unacceptable, yes.
Surprising, not so much.
That is a ridiculous statement! Did you Abby supporters get together and decide on your talking points? I have seen the "all teens do is play video games" spiel about a hundred times today. You all need to come up with different talking points. This one is getting as old as the dems blame Bush mantra.
OMG!!!!
Their parents must have been insane to let them build their own log cabin!
They could have cut off a limb or been crushed by the timbers!
Have you been out and about latley?
Seen TV?
The fact I see this girl shredded here on FreeRepublic of all palces just boggles my mind.
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