Posted on 06/10/2010 11:11:42 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Abby Sunderland, 16, who is attempting to become the youngest sailor ever to circumnavigate the globe, was feared lost at sea today after her crew lost contact with her boat.
Jeff Casher, an engineer on Sunderland's support team, said two emergency beacons on her boat are now signaling she is in trouble.
Abby's mother, MaryAnne Sunderland, told ABC News that Abby manually activated two beacons around 6 a.m. Pacific Time Thursday.
A beacon designed to automatically go off when it contacts water had not been activated, she said.
Abby was in 20-25 foot waves at the time of last contact, with 35-knot winds, said MaryAnne Sunderland, who is due to give birth at the end of the month. She was shaken but focused on trying to get a rescue effort together.
The closest land to Abby's boat was Reunion Island, which is east of Madagascar. The nearest ship was 400 miles away. Rescuers were trying to contact the ship.
Casher told ABC News that he last spoke with the 16-year-old sailor around 6 a.m. PDT after she had been knocked down twice during the night because of strong winds -- meaning that her sail had touched the water.
One of those knock-downs, Casher said, ripped the radar off the boat. She had been speaking with Casher on a satellite telephone earlier because of engine problems and was in the process of fixing those problems when she told Casher she'd call right back.
She has not been heard from since, except for the distress signals.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Only by the grace of God.
Throw your kid out into traffic, some cars will miss him.
Lock your kid in the closet. Much, much safer. Maybe.
I never said she wasn't alive. I said that she could lose her life. She still could as she isn't rescued yet. And what does that have to do with uselessly risking a kids life just to be be famous? Yes and let's endanger others so we can be a household name!
He said the jet faced a 4,700-mile (7,600-kilometer) round trip from Perth to Sunderland's boat, which is near the limit of its range.
‘You left out the rest of my post “
Because it doesn’t matter. People can do what they want just because they want to. They don’t have to do things that are only good for the collective.
It DOES matter. This is a selfish quest for fame and not a noble one.
And the article about the plane finding her states: He said the jet faced a 4,700-mile (7,600-kilometer) round trip from Perth to Sunderland's boat, which is near the limit of its range.
Lets endanger others too so that we can be famous! /s
As I said you have a different opinion.
Our society is now based on everyones ability for name recognition. Very sad.
“As I said you have a different opinion.”
Yes we do, I believe in freedom.
I can honestly say that I’m glad that you were right.
So could you.
Today.
Three minutes from now.
Life is temporary. Your idea of making the most of your limited time may not correspond to someone else's. Get used to it.
Freedom is not the same as recklessness.
You: So could you.
It won't be through recklessness just to be famous.
I come down on the latter camp. Freedom to chose, freedom to dream, freedom to pursue... and an attempt to circumvent the globe and, maybe, set a record is not a wrong choice, but her choice that she should be allowed to make.
If some think that this would make me an irresponsible parent... that's fair. I understand their point of view. But those same detractors do so in a vacuum. They only think they know Abby and her parents and their motivations.
Thank you, Lord, that Abby is alive. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to challenge nature and, more importantly, to challenge ourselves... whether we be 16, 36, 66, or 106.
The record was set in May by 16-year-old Jessica Watson
“Freedom is not the same as recklessness. “
Sure it is, freedom to be reckless or take chances because you want to.
Recklessness is not to be applauded. Neither is a society that encourages recklessness just for fame.
1. utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless
2. characterized by or proceeding from such carelessness
This is the very antithesis of being conservative and responsible.
??? I'm sorry...refresh my memory.
What exactly did you "told" me that was of value or even of any interest to me? Better yet, what was your point?
Still working on that "growing up" thing are you? Might I suggest the Doctor Seuss series...good entertainment for simple minds such as yours.
"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."---Theodore Roosevelt
I can see it now...
E. Pluribus Unum and spouse have a baby. EPU grabs the child from the hospital nursery, runs outside, tosses it in the Dempsey Dumpster in the alley, and says “Good luck kid. This will make you tough, if it doesn’t kill you first. You’ll find yourself thanking me later in life.”
I know that.
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