Posted on 06/13/2010 6:52:35 PM PDT by naturalman1975
THE United States' peak sailing body was so concerned about Abby Sunderland's solo record bid that it refused to sponsor her.
As the young sailor blasted her critics, the American Sailing Association confirmed it had knocked back the teenager's appeal for help, fearing commercial endorsement might encourage her to take too many risks.
"We chose not to be sponsors of Abigail because we did have concerns about the timing of her departure," said executive director Charlie Nobles.
Abby's route placed her in the treacherous Indian Ocean during the notoriously tough winter months.
"She had a lot of sponsors that were behind her and I think that puts pressure on her," Mr Nobles said. "We made a prudent decision not to contribute to that."
.....
Mrs Sunderland, who is pregnant with the family's eighth child, said the family did not have the money to compensate Australian rescue officials, with the rescue costing $300,000, the Courier Mail reported.
"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?"
....
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed yesterday that the Government would not seek reimbursement for the cost of Abby's rescue.
"That is not the way that the law works," Mr Albanese told Channel 10's Meet the Press.
"If there was an Australian lost at sea, we would want the international laws on maritime to kick in and for every effort to be made to save that person."
A spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said that Abby would likely be transferred to one of two other ships heading to the rescue site.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
I said I read it in an article. The writer said it was a piece of cake compared to the time of year that Abby tried it. She said it was the difference in climbing Mt. Everest or some other mountain. The writer also said that the Austrailian girl took a shorter easier route. I wish I could remember whose blog it was. It was a thread on FR from this morning. So it wasn’t according to me, it was according to someone else. You Abby supporters need to get a grip.
You must have meant your post for someone else. I have been defending teens all day today. Go back and read the post again.
What wealth? This is all on someone elses dime.
Zac Sunderland sailing speedily along as parents sink deeper into debt
But this has not been easy on Zac's parents. Laurence Sunderland, a shipwright whose business has suffered because of the recession, reluctantly conceded in an interview that the odyssey has cost about $140,000, and that the family is sinking hopelessly into debt and now must pay for Zac's passage through the Panama Canal.
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. Maybe there are fans willing to help out?
The long list of Abby's sponsors has been posted too.
In the context of that day and age that was exactly what he was doing. Back then you went to royalty for money to fund your adventure and recognition when you accomplished it. Today you go to Hollywood.
I don’t understand why you keep posting to me. I do not support what this girl did!
Only the self-centered left does.
You need to respond to post #6. Thats who I was responding to.
And here I was responding to post #75.
Oh my....no offense intended...good you spoke up....my apology for replying to the wrong post. Need to pay more attention in the future.
No problem. I’ve done it myself a time ot two. I need to learn to post quotes in italics.
FR has an HTML bootcamp thread. I learned HTML on Rysher Highlander Forum. It was a poster there that directed me to FR many moons ago.
I think I got it figured out. Thanks
I'm going to bed. Goodnight! :-)
“No doubt a book and movie deal is in the offing...”
A reality show was pre-planned...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2533958/posts
“You hate them for their wealth and achievement...”
They are NOT wealthy.
Article regarding brother, Zac, from July, 2009..
“I don’t know if he’s set to be on the Wheaties box yet,” his mother, Marianne Sunderland, said Friday in acknowledging that the family has an agent looking to sign her son to commercials and endorsements.”
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12909391?nclick_check=1
More important...
A reality show was pre-planned...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2533958/posts
It was Jessica Watson Role Model for all Sailboat Voyage Planners
And this is the difference. Jessica always had the respect of the long distance sailors who met her. And came onto the team to help her. Even the rough sailors at http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102689 (where people are allowed and willing to use words like clusterf~~~ to describe the Abby project) took only two months observing from the sidelines do drop the 'Jessica sails (does anyone have a bad feeling about this)' thread for http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=100961&st=0
OK, I was one of the worriers. Not a naysayer, but seriously concerned for a young kid in a small boat and a large, empty and unfriendly ocean.Despite the "litmus testers" claim that any doubt about the Abby venture is for "girlymen, wimps, biggirls blouses, nancys, and jessies" (oh man we need to change that last one now) a lot of real sailors had doubts about the Abby venture, while agreeing with the idea that kids today are being bubblewrapped.Well, this slip of a girl has been going for about 65 days (I haven't checked) - that's over 2 months. She's clocked about 7500 nm solo since starting out. She's now somewhere about 40 degrees south - after crossing the equator - that's 40 degrees north-south, a lot more than I've ever done in one trip.
She's climbed the mast, fixed stuff and seems to be in good spirits. Maybe there is some PR spin, but generally she seems to be enjoying herself and coping well. The tough stuff is just ahead, and I hope the Southern Ocean is kind to her. She has my respect. Well done Jesse, and good luck in the cold days to come.
DON MCINTYRE, ADVENTURER: Adventure is something that be a swear word to a lot of people. As soon as you say adventure, they say rescue and there's a lot of people that sort of question the values of it, but the bottom line is if we keep wrapping up our society and our young kids in cotton wool , which is what we're doing, we're changing the culture of Australia. Australia needs heroes, Australia needs adventurers and there's a lot of real, serious positive benefits for anyone that's getting out there and having a go, and chasing their dreams and really pushing themselves to the limit.was so impressed by her that he lent her the boat, and took a back seat when she made the decisions on the refit (his attitude: If you are out there and find one of them was wrong, it's best if it was the your decision, not something forced on you. Other people can suggest, argue, plead, beg, but ultimately, once selected, a boat has one skipper, and it's not some guy on shore).
Slightly shorter overall, not easier (except for time of year and not going so far south in the Indian - which actually made Jessica's Indian ocean segment longer).
Watching the routes and reading the blogs it was clear that in the Pacific, Jessica was sailing hard, testing herself and her boat, so by the time she reached the Roaring Forties she knew what they could do. The first Pacific 45kt gale was a big thing on her blog. By the time she was down south, running before a 40kt wind to Cape Horn, rated - a caption to a photograph. And down south she started sailing more conservatively (seemingly a forgotten virtue by some on these threads) so she always had something in reserve.
IN contrast Abby was routed so timidly in the Pacific that her Race Boat was slower than Jessica's little pink tank, and Abby seemingly never saw 35kt winds before Capetown. Then with the birthday "deadline" looming, they send Abby om a shortcut down into the Roaring 40s and 60kt winds. (add facepalm)
I’m with you.
She and her family should have to pay every last dime. And, her sponsors should be held liable for any deficiency.
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