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 ...
Yes but did they sail the Indian Ocean in winter? If not then they are just lazy video game playing kids. I hope you know this is sarcasm. Good for your boys!
I don’t think she is being shredded. Its her parents who were looking for a TV show and used their children to try to get one that are being critisized for putting them in danger.
Don’t know ant kids like that. That’s a shame.
But they're just worthless as they didn't sail around the Horn and aren't trying to get a reality TV show. ;-)
Glad to see extremism is still alive! /s
Bwaaaahahahaaaaaa what a kook.
Imagine if all teens had parents that could afford to give them 12m yachts!!
Or donate a few boats...
They should at least donate the boat to the Aussies.
No we'd be a broke nation from having to rescue them from all the foolhardy expeditions. Course we are already broke from rescuing fools in financial trouble so I guess it wouldn't matter.
Yeah, that's what the world needs. More pasty-faced, limp-wristed, victim card-carrying lying lawyers and Global Warming scientists.
LOL!!!
No they didn't. They could have stayed in New York and Boston and worked in millineries and other sweat shops. There was absolutely no need for them to take extravagant risks settling the west and costing the taxpayer's tons of money sending the cavalry to their rescue. /s
Well, the woman is pregnant. This may be one of the most coherent things she has said lately. ;^)
Sort of like sitting in front of a computer posting on an internet forum, huh?
Those guys are doing something for the betterment of their country. Thats what I’ve been trying to explain to these people who think all young people sit around and pop babies and play video games.
A lot of teens DO have this courage and it's safely channeled and directed by their parents and other professionals in those fields of interests.... Trying to get this kid, who wanted to get this under her belt before her next birthday...because it would disqualify her from being the youngest winner....is hardly what I would call intelligent on her part or the parents. The time line put her in unnecessary danger, and additionally to meet that danger they knew would be there..alone! That's a fail!
If we let all kids with courage launch out into the deep waters of life...and recklessly so as this was done...the ocean would have many bodies floating in it today...as well as other places. It isn't about courage...it's about safe preparation, from start to finish, an plans in place if there is a problem...this whole family “missed the boat” on almost every level.
We truly are a self-centered society. And we've lost it when people begin to see nothing wrong with that.
Well if that’s all you see teens do then that speaks volumes of the places you are visiting..... Try some of the sports arenas....and colleges.....how about NASA and other scientific communities where kids have tremendous opportunities and giving it there all..... Let alone kids both working and going to school already in their fields of interests.... be it the military, Vo-Tec and other venues open to them...these take courage and focus and allot of hard work..and this in a world today that has much going against their efforts.....far rougher waters do they face for their efforts than a 6 month joy ride that went bad.
Now beckysueb you’re the one that thinks the fact that her older brother solo-circumnavigated the world at 16-17 was a “piece of cake”....I’ll take all futher comments from you with that in mind...As for what I’ve done today, I played three sets of tennis in 95 degree weather....the difference between you an I is the fact that I don’t criticize people who raise seven children in an intact family...one of which has already solo-circumnavigeted the world (”piece of cake” according to you), home school them, and then have their daughter almost duplicate the feat. You hate them for their wealth and achievement...whereas I applaud them...I’m not jealous of their success, I enjoy my own success on a different level.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.