Abby Sunderland (16, sailing around the world) Feared Lost at Sea

[The Straight Story]

Abby Sunderland Feared Lost at Sea
Crew Receives Repeated Distress Signals, Loses Contact With 16-Year-Old Attempting Circumnavigation

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.


http://abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-sunderland-possibly-lost-sea/story?id=10877108

[Swede]

1. Well,let's hope she's ok.

nt

[TexasObserver]

42. we can hope for the best

[bigwillq]

2. That's too bad.

Hope she is ok.

[tk2kewl]

3. if you read the full story it sounds like it might be possible

that she only lost her radio or antenna in the bad weather. i sure hope so.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. That was my first thought as well, and I really hope that's all it is.

[The Straight Story]

6. I hope that is all it is as well (nt)

[Submariner]

5. It's really stupid letting kids attempt these feats

A little 16 year old boy or girl is NOT going to have the physical strength to man-handle sails and rigging in hi-wind stormy conditions, and that fact should be obvious to anyone with an IQ above room temperature.

Not to mention extensive skills and experience navigating with little, if any, sleep for extended periods.

A waste of a life if she is lost.

[FLPanhandle]

8. I agree.

A person who is below the age of consent is sent off to do something extremely life threatening. The parents should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this.

[Dappleganger]

14. Too bad you aren't dealing with facts.

You're merely impuning your own emotions into the situation. Her parents knew what they were doing and the risks.

[reggie the dog]

17. A person trained in sailing from a young age

who is a strong navigator. her parents trust her judgement and know that their daughter dreamed of being the youngest person to do this. What is the big deal that she is 16 and not 18? I drove to the grand canyon from chicago when i was 16.

[customerserviceguy]

26. Driving on modern highways

is simply not the same thing as being alone on a boat on the open sea. You always had the option of pulling off of the road if you hit a severe storm, and there were numerous services such as AAA, the highway patrol, and your fellow motorists possibly available if something bad happened along the way.

This is the parent-sanctioned version of "Jackass".

[Bill McBlueState]

47. the driving analogy is interesting

Sixteen-year-olds die behind the wheels of their cars all the time, but you don't hear many people arguing against that.

[azul]

10. Lattitude 38 has been discussing this for some time:

http://www.latitude38.com/index.lasso

[Dappleganger]

12. I appreciate that

your reasons for her being too young had to do with physical strength and lack of skill depth, rather than blatantly accusing the parents of child neglect or abuse for the sole reason she's only 16.

Be that as it may, she does have a proven history of experience at sea in her belt of experience and I wish her the very best.

[reggie the dog]

16. at 16 I drove from Chicago to the grand canyon

it is called TRUST! If parents trust your ability they will let you use your wings to fly. Her parents knew there was a risk as did she. What is the difference if she does this at 16 or at 18?

[The Straight Story]

21. I bet you have some good stories from that trip!

My first trip I was 29 and went from Ohio to Ridgecrest, CA. Still one of the coolest trips ever I have taken (made the drive 20+ times now, and each one is filled with memories).

[reggie the dog]

29. lots of stories!

and i am still friends with both of my driving parteners 15 years on!

[activa8tr]

53. I guess you didn't use a boat, be without a motel and shower you could get each night

and I guess you never learned how to spell "partner" either.

At 16, you should have been learning to spell, and your use of a self-serving personal anecdote has little logic within it either.

How anyone can think that driving a couple thousand miles in the USA with 2 other people at 16 years old has anything to do with
this tragedy, and how your parents had as much poor judgment as these parents, well, I think I have said enough.

So you were a daring and selfish youngster, who wanted to do your own thing, and your parents were foolish enough to think what YOU wanted to do was more important than getting an education. I really don't care, and wonder why you posted this here. Oh wait, you and your story are more important. Talk about ego a mile long!

[Submariner]

27. Age doesn't matter, but size does on the open ocean alone

I was discussing physical size and strength, and the years of experience it takes to know how to navigate in the event that her GPS craps out. She is too small yet to handle sheets and line straining under hi winds. That was the point I was making, because I have been in 70 foot waves and know the experience necessary to survive it if they come along, and I'd want to have another 50 to 100 lbs on me compared to her.

[reggie the dog]

30. ah, good point

[treestar]

32. Is there a difference to dying at 16 rather than 18?

some risks are too big and should not be taken. Or, some small risks should not be taken, as being too unnecessary.

There are plenty of sailing activities without having to do this. In short, it is unnecessary.

[reggie the dog]

45. but like you said what difference in dying at 16 or 18

it seems she would do it at 18 anyways, but at least there is good news today, she is ok.

[Johonny]

19. seems kinda stupid at any age

but it appears she was really interested in doing it. Shrug.

[EFerrari]

38. I agree with that.

I moved out when I was 16 so I know people at that age can be capable and even self sufficient. But this is over the top.

I hope for all their sakes that it is just instruments and that she's okay.

[janx]

39. I so agree, EFerrari!

There is a big difference between basic self-sufficiency and sailing around the world. I really hope she's fine--such a mission!

[TexasObserver]

41. The physical strength required, the wisdom, the risks.

This kind of thing defies sanity.

[JonLP24]

54. For some reason

Jessica Watson was able to do it. And she wasn't much younger than the previous youngest circumnavigator.

[AndyA]

7. Sending good thoughts out to Abby, hoping she's OK and this is just a minor

issue that can be easily resolved, so she can continue her journey.

[jgraz]

13. I'm hoping this is just a minor issue and her parents wise up and bring her home.

This teenage daredevil stuff is beyond stupid.

[yawnmaster]

25. What is the purpose to living? eom

[jgraz]

28. Whatever it is, I hope part of it is to protect your children from harm...

at least until they're old enough to make life and death decisions for themselves.

[reggie the dog]

46. most parents today are afraid to let their kids go to the park alone

much less cross an ocean..... just saying.... I personally think it is fine of her parents to let her, she is 16 and can drive her car anywhere she wants, there is more danger in certain neighborhoods of chicago than on the high seas.....

[Subdivisions]

9. A Rough Few Days

http://soloround.blogspot.com/2010/06/rough-few-days.html

The last few days have pretty busy out here. I've been in some rough weather for awhile with winds steady at 40-45 knots with higher gusts. With that front passing, the conditions were lighter today. It was a nice day today with some lighter winds which gave me a chance to patch everything up. Wild Eyes was great through everything but after a day with over 50 knots at times, I had quite a bit of work to do.

...snip...

The wind is beginning to pick up. It is back up to 20 knots and I am expecting that by midnight tonight I could have 35-50 knots with gusts to 60 so I am off to sleep before it really picks up.


Here's hoping all is well with young Abby.

[crim son]

11. This makes me ill.

Just because a young person is capable of doing something this dangerous does not mean his or her parents should allow it. Young people don't yet understand what is lost, to everybody, when they lose their lives. Most have no concept of personal death whatsoever, no matter how bright they may be otherwise. Of course I hope she will be found and rescued. Not good, not good at all.

[reggie the dog]

15. Réunion island is part of France, i have been there

I hope she is not in the indian ocean as there are a fair number of sharks. If she makes it to reunion she will be in for a good time with very nice people in general. I hope the French navy is helping in the search.

[WatchWhatISay]

18. Isn't this the area that the pirates have been stalking?

[MiniMe]

23. No, the pirates are around Somalia

That is northern Africa. She just left Capetown South Africa.

[skygazer]

20. I think this is sad and hope she's okay

I really don't agree with these "youngest ever" attempts. I don't see what the point is, what it proves and why the risk is worth it. We know people can sail solo around the world - risking your 16 year old kid for it seems absurd to me.

[Bonhomme Richard]

22. Info from a cruising forum

Between about 3:00 pm PDT and 5:00 pm PDT we had many very short broken calls from iridium phone from inside boat.

Abby had been Knocked Down several times in 60 Kts winds earlier in the day. Last Knock Down stripped radar from gimbaled mount on mast. There was slight amount of water in boat. No other damage was noted running backs were intact. A full damage survey had not been done yet outside.

She felt she was in good shape after these incidents. The main reason for the call was engine would not start. We got engine started and it was working OK. B&G wind instruments atop mast were still in working order she had 35 Kts wind and was sailing. Basically she felt all was OK.

Iridium dropped another call and we expected a quick call back as she had been doing for several hours. 30 minutes to 1 hour passed with no contact.

Then USCG called with first EPIRB deployment this was a manual EPIRB from inside cabin. Short time later Personal EPIRB was also activated. There is also a Class 1 automatic deployment EPIRB in cockpit that has not activated.

Just about the time of EPIRB activation it would have been getting dark.
She does have a life raft and survival suite.
Her last water temperature report June 5 was 54 degrees F and cabin was 60 degree F...since then she has reported a cabin temp of 65 degree F

Search and Rescue has been handed over to the French.

French navy vessel 2 1/2 days away has been diverted to EPIRB position. Fishing vessel 40 hours away has also been diverted to EPIRB location.

Initial EPIRB location was 557 NM NNE of PORT-AUX-FRANCIAS.

That is the extent of what we know.

[seabeyond]

24. i thought she already did this and we saw her on news....??? is this another girl?

hope it turns out well

[treestar]

33. Yeah, there was an Australian girl who made it

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/93870044.html#axzz0qUdm5FLB

Also 16, so I guess she was just a bit older than this girl?

[SoCalDem]

34. a different one.. I know it's an exciting thing to try, but it's sad to see a young person

perish alone ..at sea...all for some "record book" .. Her parents will never forgive themselves. The dare-devil gene is in some people, and they seem to push and push until their luck runs out.. Too bad her parents "let" her go. Had she waited until they had no choice in it, she would not have been "the youngest/the whatever-est", but at least they would not be complicit in her demise..

[seabeyond]

35. .

whispering... i wouldnt/couldnt have allowed it, no way no how, but....

i can see why a parent would rule in favor of, kinda sorta

nah, not even. the kid can be pissed at me.

i dont want them to feel guilt if something happens. we make choices. they had a valid reason, just doesnt work for me.

[Cass]

31. I hope she is ok, this is just awful news. Its good that Guinness won't recognize anymore of these

youngest-ever sailing records anymore due to the risk involved. I was one of the ones who thought it was too dangerous for a teenager to do alone. Never in a million years would I give my teenage child permission to do something like this. Never. Call me over-protective, stifling, whatever but no way would I permit it.

I hope Abby returns home safely, I will be keeping her in my thoughts.

[hayu_lol]

36. Kicking because so many of us are following.

hopefully the boat is only swamped. It has 5 watertight compartments and her mom said that in a worse case, Abby could seek shelter in one of those. If she is still on the boat, she has all she needs for survival, even in these conditions. If she is in the raft, it is a closed survival type which will keep her alive until the cavalry arrives.

Good thoughts for her family and Abby herself.

[KonaKane]

37. The ocean is nothing to be messed with.

I hope they find her alive too. Best wished for her family.

[TexasObserver]

40. Who would send a 16 year old on such a voyage?

In two years, she could have made the trip as an adult. At 16, we don't even allow her to sign a contract. This kind of dangerous mission for a child is unforgivable.

[yawnmaster]

43. At what age should I let my child out of the panic room?

you know, the one that protects the child from disease, autos, stray bullets, and meteors?
Is the purpose of life to avoid harm?
What makes for a full life?
Is 16 too young to take large risks? why?

discuss

[yawnmaster]

44. She is okay. broken mast. waiting for fishing boat. eom

[hayu_lol]

48. Abby has lost her long range radios/electronics...

the antennas went down with the mast. She still has close range radio including handhelds so that when the rescue vessel/s get close to her, she can talk direct with them.

From the latest info I could find, she is in good spirits(conversations with the Airbus observers)despite the end of her cruise. Plucky girl...she is still enjoying the experience.

She made the right decisions and took care of her gear...now it is taking care of her.

She has just over a day to wait now. No decision has been made yet as to her immediate destination. Her boat will probably be taken in tow, seas permitting.

In the end, good news.

[deutsey]

49. It's a sign of the times, I guess: when I first heard this news, I was very relieved

My second reaction, however, was: I hope this isn't some PR stunt designed to make her story more appealing for book/movie deals.

I don't think that's what happened, but there have been so many hoaxes and obfuscating spin spewing from the media like oil in the Gulf that my cynicism is becoming a conditioned response. :evilfrown:

[yawnmaster]

50. much evidence supports this is genuine. eom

[deutsey]

51. Yeah, I know, but with all the con jobs that get foisted on us

I can't help but second-guess even stories like this.

[yawnmaster]

52. Yep. When saturated with false data, reality can be difficult to determine eom