Sailor Abby Sunderland's Dad Signed Her To TV Deal Before Her Doomed Voyage

Fox news ^ | June 14 2010 | NYPost.com

[ilovesarah2012]

Shameful. Perhaps social services should check into this family.

[Tennessee Nana]

EIGHT children ???

and shes the oldest ???

Whats their religion ???

[Thurston_Howell_III]

"about his family of daredevil kids weeks after she set off on her doomed and dangerous solo sail around the globe."

[thethirddegree]

What a dick.

[marron]

I don’t think America is ready for a reality show based on the “marron” household.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Media whores doing what they do best. Reminds me of Balloon Boy’s family. Maybe they can both ride off into the sunset on a hot air balloon

[Sacajaweau]

These young folks are the Jacques Cousteaus of the future. This is their life...their dreams...No one forced her to go....God Bless the entire family.

[org.whodat]

Welfare!!!!!

[AU72]

Shades of ‘balloon boy’.

[Tennessee Nana]

Whether it was before or after this “dad” needs to be investigated...

It seems his children are just little meal tickets for him...

Endangering children is child abuse...

[theDentist]

First off, the trip was not "doomed". She did not sink, drown, or get lost at sea. A mast broke, and the 16 year old had the presence of mind to send a signal for help.

Next, her 17 y.o. brother had done the same trip around the world, and was fine. Both son and daughter had been raised in sailing since they were children, so if their parents were ok with it, good luck.

As to Dad signing a deal, so what? It's no different than a ball player getting endorsements for shoes, deodorant, etc. And later they host all sorts of shows. And these contracts help cover costs for the voyage.

Go Abby! Try again!!

[Retired Greyhound]

Would you allow your 16 year old daughter to sail around the world by herself?

[Sarah Barracuda]

When I heard the 17 year old had done the same thing, yeah it was obvious that the father is just using his kids as a meal ticket. When Abby was lost at sea, he probably saw it as an opportunity to get some media attention. They were on every network the day she called for help. Never showed any real emotion or fear for her safety

[chaos_5]

Agreed! It’s a shame so many have the knee jerk reaction they are spewing here.

[sam_paine]

Would you allow your 16 year old daughter to sail around the world by herself?

Have you stopped beating your 16 year old daughter yet?

[Plutarch]

Laurence Sunderland, a sailing instructor who lives in the middle-class Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks with his pregnant wife and seven kids...

Ah, with seven more where she came from, Abby was expendable.

[org.whodat]

Lets, see, the child was home school, the only influence on her life was her parents. Sort of like those TEXAS Mormons and their marriages to little girls claiming it was their decision. Brain washing is brain washing no matter who practices it.

[Gay State Conservative]

No one forced her to go....

Maybe not...but there's no way she should have been *allowed* to go.

God Bless the entire family.

More like...God help the entire family.

[Thurston_Howell_III]

She should have been forced to sit home by the fireplace and read the bible until mama could finally stomach cutting the cord and letting her precious baby take a risk.