Abby Sunderland's dad had TV deal as girl risked life at sea

NY Post ^ | 6/14/10 | ANITA BENNETT

[jimbo123]

Here's a dose of reality.

The father of teen sailor Abby Sunderland told The Post yesterday that he's broke and had signed a contract to do a reality show, "Adventures in Sunderland," about his family of daredevil kids weeks after she set off on her doomed and dangerous solo sail around the globe.

Laurence Sunderland, a sailing instructor who lives in the middle-class Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks with his pregnant wife and seven kids, opened their home to film crews four months ago.

"The show might be about family, it might be about Abigail's trip. It's something that was shopped around," he said.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” You are making other assumptions, pal.”

And what might those be, pal?

[DJ MacWoW]

That young lady survived because of the teaching of her father and brother and the grace of God.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Chay Blyth

In 1968, with no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30ft yacht called Dytiscus retiring just past the Cape of Good Hope

[jimbo123]

Their sponsors are a bunch of whacked out liberals:

http://www.shoecity.com
http://www.ssaquafriends.com
http://www.kptmovies.com
http://www.ukhalsey.com/
http://www.mountainhouse.com/
http://www.satwest.com/
http://www.thrane.com/
http://www.wrapsbyrich.com/
http://www.vespermarine.com/
http://www.bayoumarine.com/
http://www.navionics.com/
http://www.bilgalarm.com/
http://www.goprocamera.com/
http://www.micro-mono.com/
http://www.oakley.com/
http://www.soleousa.com/
http://www.samys.com/
http://www.organicfoodbar.com/
http://www.patagonia.com/
http://www.navitasnaturals.com/
http://www.twomomsintheraw.com/
http://www.sproutliving.com/
http://www.e3live.com/
http://www.essentiallivingfoods.com/
http://www.superseaveg.com/
http://www.capegrace.com/
http://www.environ.co.za/
http://www.farmasea.com/
http://www.natenal.com/

[stephenjohnbanker]

I lived there in 2005- 2006, right before I moved to Arizona.

I had an office in Westlake Village for years(part of Thousand Oaks).

[Travis McGee]

Yep, the departure to beat her aging-out of the youngest-ever record put her into the southern ocean in winter. That was criminal. But if they waited for a summer southern ocean transit, she’d have been “too old” and hence not the numero-uno media darling record holder.

So they rolled the dice with her life, to gain the fame.

[Crim]

Travis..you hit that nial right o the head.....been sayin it for two days myself..

It’s a pity how many freepers have been taken in by this familiy of attention whores.

[Oztrich Boy]

That boat must have cost multiple 100s of thousands don’t you think? Half a $million?

$90,000. It was a worn out race boat laid up unmaintained in Newport. It looked like too much work to fix in the time. Laurie tried to get a more expensive (and even more unsuitable) boat in Bermuda. The cheque didn't clear, so they had a marine surveyor look at the Newport boat again. He told them to walk away from it (and now can't get his airfare refunded) - Laurie ignored his advice.

[jimbo123]

Octodad has (or will have very soon) 6 other kids younger than Abby. So if Octodad can convince another set of advertisers to buy him another boat and outfit it for him, he has 6 more chances at the record.

[stephenjohnbanker]

The first 4 aren’t.

Mike Krikorian of Krikorian theatres was right next to me at Reagan’s funeral.

[DJ MacWoW]

I doubt it pal. Thousand Oaks is not middle class. It is upper middle class to wealthy.

Zac Sunderland sailing speedily along as parents sink deeper into debt

From the comments section: The Sunderland home is very modest. I can comment on the neighborhood because I live in it myself. The situation is such that a significant number of the homes have 3-4 families living in them. Yea, it is that type of neighborhood. The house is furnished in "early yard sale." I mean that not to insult them, but to point out the modest way they live. I've never known them to buy a new car. In fact, during the time I've known them a few of their vehicles have run on the ragged edge.

[hennie pennie]

When she's older can she sue these vile companies who footed the bill so that she put her life at risk?

I think that Child Protective Services should assume custody of her, and check into the safety of her siblings.

What a bizarre stunt for her parents to encourage, so utterly dangerous -- and then the captain of the boat who rescued her fell overboard, and HE had to be rescued.

What a selfish, self serving, pathological weird set of parents. How dare they, and these vile sponsors, risk so many lives?

[silverleaf]

Joint venture with octomom and Bubble Boys dad? Oh yeah, and Jon and Kate, too. Directed by Michael and Dina Lohan.

Just what we need- a reality TV series about scheming parents using their kids to achieve 15 minutes of fame and control of a trust fund

[DManA]

You seem to know what you’re talking about. What would it cost to do this trip properly?

[altura]

Pushing one’s children beyond what they want is not unheard of. Many tennis players were pushed like that, also golfers and other sports.

But although these kids may have been a bit miserable, they were not in danger.

I think this is sick behavior on the part of the father and wish he wouldn’t get a dime, altho he probably will.

Ironically, the thing that made the story front page news was the storm and rescue. I’ll bet he was secretly a little happy about that.

[Travis McGee]

This is by far the best article I’ve read about the voyage. It’s from Latitude 38, a great west coast sailing rag.

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2010-06-11&dayid=438

[caver]

Thanks for more input, but the other genius “stephenjohnbanker” is the one that needs to know this.

[DJ MacWoW]

Man, newspapers can be nasty. Guy calls up, hawks his story, lets a few details slip, bam, they have a hitpiece.

Apparently he also tried to market Zac.

Zac Sunderland sailing speedily along as parents sink deeper into debt

Laurence probably has not shared this information with Zac, and said he'd never ask his son's many followers for financial assistance. But I noted long ago that there's a "Help support Zac's World Adventure" link on the left column of his website.

From the "Comments" section: The family has marketed this adventure from the get-go, and according to their own website "have several offers for media rights". It looks like they should stop holding out, and sell the rights to pay for the trip. - Posted by: Capt Jorge | May 18, 2009 at 04:54 AM

[mountainlion]

Who paid for the girl’s sailboat?

Obama?

[DJ MacWoW]

I pinged you because I responded to a reply to you.

[Tax-chick]

I’m agree with both of you! On the one hand, I think it’s essential for young people to take up challenges, and I think the culture of “safety-obsession” goes to insane lengths. I’ve had people upset at me because I let my little boys (8, 6, 4) play on the playground within sight of our house “by themselves.”

On the other hand, taking unnecessary risks in order to achieve an attention-getting “record,” and making a tv-show of your family in anticipation of someone’s perhaps being willing to pay for it, is unwise and bizarre.