"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?"
While I am not among those who believe the Sunderlands should have to pay for this rescue (that simply isn't how it works), I have to say I am not impressed by Mrs Sunderland's attitude.
We can't pay so if the Australian government wants money, the US government should pay.
We're talking about $300,000 - it's not a trivial amount of money, but a family which could afford to see two children sail around the world, should not find that type of amount impossible to pay over a reasonable period of time if it was required.
They just don't want to take responsibility.
These parents are lower than whale poop. I wish the authority that recognizes records in sailing would make the boat put up bond for any cost related to rescue or admin expense for a country. Plus require 18 years old as the entry level.
I am so frosted about this. Sending your kid to her potential death is child abuse in the first degree. The kid failed, was behind schedule, put in for repairs and was then advised by her father to continue the march. Put those parents in a Dingy in the middle of the Southern Ocean in Winter. Let’s see what hero’s they are. That girl was facing weather worse that what crashed her for the next two months.
Honor the rescuers. The fishing boat crew that got her lost production, and the captain, almost his life. Fell into the water. I’m hot about this.
Fortunately, that's not how it works but a little more humility and appreciation for what they have done for this woman and her child isnt' too much to ask.
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.
She and her family should have to pay every last dime. And, her sponsors should be held liable for any deficiency.
Are you under the impression there are rescue services funded by Government patrolling those waters?
We aren't talking about the Coast Guard rescuing day sailors. We are talking about a part of the Ocean most people avoid because its too damn far from anywhere and its too damn rough for many serious Ocean going vessels let alone racing yachts.
If someone wants to try in a racing yacht more power too 'em they got major cajones to even try. But it took A french ship nearly 24 hours just to get to her location then they need to come back and that is AFTER they knew exactly where she was. The fuel alone for that trip is more than most people make in a month plus the cost of the crew. Then you have the cost of sending planes to locate her as well. Someone has to pay for it why should it not be the person who tempted fate?
More power to ‘er.
I would have done this in a heartbeat at her age.
As it was, all we did was race snowmobiles at 60mph+ back in the early 70’s. That and A frame hydroplanes with way too much horsepower.
Pushing the edge is just fun. Being prepared and doing in safely is just part of the equation. Back in my day, nobody would pay us to do these things - we just did ‘em for the fun of it.