They also don't realize that the girl isn't going to get to try it again, because now she isn't young enough. The only reason that she was sent out early was to gain the record, now she is just someone who wants to sail around the world and no one is going to sponsor that.
Maybe this is the kind of activity that (like other unethically dangerous stunts) the Guinness World Records people should stop publishing records of.
Family Sunderland has 5(and one's on the way) more children. And reports are the 12 year old is deciding this is his "dream".
Maybe it is, at least he has the time to prepare. But I doubt this family can plan long haul.
I must have missed the memo. How young do you have to be to sail solo around the world, and what are the rules for us old farts?
I'm not sure you're right about this. Though I'm not a sailor and so all those who did sponsor her first trip got no value from exposing their names to me, I did see them nearly every day for however many months Abby was underway. If she makes another similar effort, I would probably follow it again and maybe more people would look in because of he notoriety she achieved from this failed effort and rescue. Maybe she could even get some Corn Chip maker to sponsor her?
ML/NJ
I'm not sure she ever wanted to sail around the world for its own sake, rather it was the record of being the youngest to have sailed around the world.
Departing August 2010 could have brought her home April 2011 at 17 years 6 months and youngest evah!
When they learnt about Jessica Watson in July 2009. They went cuckoo-bananas.
In contrast (courtesy of Wayback machine January 2009 Ryan Langley
Welcome to the home page of the Southern Ocean Solo sailing challenge! I am Ryan Langley, a 16 year sailor old currently preparing for a nonstop sailing voyage around the world! A voyage like this has never been attempted by someone my age before.He originally planned to depart in 2008, shortly after turning 16. The plan was rushed (but not as rushed as the Sunderlands'), but far better thought out than Team Sunderland - he actually had a boat, and the right boat. a blue water cruiser
It has been interesting to follow Michael Perham who is two stops into his proposed nonstop voyage around the world aboard his Open 50, Totallymoney.com. It was unfortunate for him to have to stop, which was due to problems with his Autopilot. An Open 50 is designed exclusively for speed over safety, and they are known to be difficult to sail, so it wouldn't be my first choice of vessel for the youngest record. - Ryan Langley December 2008
Comparison
But Jessica made that moot.
Because Ryan is a genuine sailor and prepared to adapt Global Challenge
In all of history, only five people have ever sailed solo, nonstop around the world from east to west via the Southern Ocean. In 2010, Ryan Langley will leave the Olympic Peninsula on a nonstop westabout sailing voyage around the globe. When he completes this voyage, Ryan will become the first American, and the youngest person ever to circumnavigate solo, nonstop against the prevailing winds and currents.I expect him to make it. He has something that Team Sunderland lacks.