16-year-old solo sailor Abbey Sunderland reportedly lost at sea

[Tickle Fiend]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/abby-sunderlands-team-outlines-three-scenarios-for-losing-contact.html

The engineer behind Abby Sunderland's solo trip around the world says he believes the 16-year-old Thousand Oaks sailor is "alive" and "most likely floating" in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Speaking to a throng of reporters outside the family's home, Jeff Casher said he spoke to her at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, then lost contact after she went to check on some equipment on her boat. About an hour later, she apparently activated her emergency beacons – devices that sent automatic alerts to the Coast Guard and her family.

Casher said the family is looking at three possible scenarios. Either the boat's mast came down, giving her no ability to sail the vessel; the keel hit something and possibly flipped the boat upside down; or she may have broken an arm or leg while being whipsawed about in violent waters.

"She set this off not because she lost communication, but because something else was wrong," Casher said. They had set very clear guidelines for when to activate emergency beacons – and losing communication alone was not enough, he said.

Casher said the high school junior has the mental fitness to make it through this. Her brother, Zac, made a solo trip around the world when he was 17.

Abby Sunderland apparently was a little rattled when the boat's motor wouldn't work Thursday morning. But, Casher said, "The moment the engine started, she was her same old self – perky and tough.… She's just as tough, or tougher, as most of the cruisers we've met."

The family is hopeful that a Qantas Airbus, commissioned by the Australian government, will be able to spot her at daylight – about 10 or 11 p.m. Pacific time.

Water temperatures are about 54 or 55 degrees, Cash said, describing it as cold, but survivable. Sunderland had equipment on board to survive a crisis, including a dry suit and life boat.

 

[WorkInProgress]

Some months back we were debating on this board whether or not her parents were guilty of child endangerment by allowing this. I made the observation that it was a rather tough call, because, on the one hand, she must have had her heart set on it and refused to take no for an answer, and the idea was to be the youngest ever to do this, breaking her brother's record, something she could only do now, not later; on the other hand, I believe I also observed, if she succeeds, then somebody younger will want to break her record, and then somebody even younger, and it gets to be a question of where you draw the line.

I don't envy her parents, especially if she doesn't make it back alive. I don't agree with calling it child endangerment, because Abby made the choice and knew exactly what she was doing, but they may now wish they'd forbidden it, and they may get some criticism for their judgment if she doesn't make it back. And they have my full sympathy, because, whether I would have done the same or not, I do regard them as loving and caring parents who, rightly or wrongly, chose not to stand in the way of their daughter's risk-taking dream.

 

[McNoodle]

May the fates bring her home safely.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

too big a risk for a 16 year old to take in my opinion and the parents shouldnt have allowed it, but thats neither here nor there right now i just hope the girl is alive and found

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

Hope she's ok...but her parents are dumb for allowing it.

 

[MrMacphisto]

I noticed something interesting looking at comments from news sites about this....

A lot of people seem to be pointing out that whenever people try these dangerous things, it's always taxpayers that end up footing the bill of rescue efforts.

In a way, I understand the disdain for people doing these things when the rest of us have to pay for it if it goes wrong.

 

[venray]

May the fates bring her home safely.

^This

 

[Amnesiac]

The thing I don't understand is how age has anything to do with it. As untold numbers of people have seen, there are plenty of adults who meet the definition of "dumbfuck assery" if it existed in the dictionary.

What I question is the wisdom in sailing across the world ALONE. The most experienced mountaineer would never in a million years consider trekking up Mt. Everest alone, and the Ocean is a million times deadlier (Mount Everest doesn't have species of ravenous snow sharks for one). Evolutionary biologists theorize that life may have gravitated towards and remained on land because it was an far less violent environment than the ocean. hat's right: our pre-human ancestors crawled out onto a barren, dusty continent of dirt to risk dehydration and exposure because it was nicer. That's how dangerous the fucking ocean is.

And while sailors in the past may have made a record of sailing the world alone, the maps that thrill-seekers and record-breakers use were made by PEOPLE; people who brought along additional people called "crews" to assist with the things that had to be done when crossing treacherous, unpredictable, and dangerous terrain where the mathematical possibility of death increases exponentially with each mile. The fewer people you have, the fewer chances you have to save yourself when something goes inevitably wrong.

So the idea of going out on the ocean ALONE at all seems like the dumb idea to me, not here age. Veteran mariners are no less vulnerable to horrible aquatic death just because they're of drinking age.

 

[MrMacphisto]

The thing I don't understand is how age has anything to do with it. As untold numbers of people have seen, there are plenty of adults who meet the definition of "dumbfuck assery" if it existed in the dictionary.

What I question is the wisdom in sailing across the world ALONE. The most experienced mountaineer would never in a million years consider trekking up Mt. Everest alone, and the Ocean is a million times deadlier (Mount Everest doesn't have species of ravenous snow sharks for one). Evolutionary biologists theorize that life may have gravitated towards and remained on land because it was an far less violent environment than the ocean. hat's right: our pre-human ancestors crawled out onto a barren, dusty continent of dirt to risk dehydration and exposure because it was nicer. That's how dangerous the fucking ocean is.

And while sailors in the past may have made a record of sailing the world alone, the maps that thrill-seekers and record-breakers use were made by PEOPLE; people who brought along additional people called "crews" to assist with the things that had to be done when crossing treacherous, unpredictable, and dangerous terrain where the mathematical possibility of death increases exponentially with each mile. The fewer people you have, the fewer chances you have to save yourself when something goes inevitably wrong.

So the idea of going out on the ocean ALONE at all seems like the dumb idea to me, not here age. Veteran mariners are no less vulnerable to horrible aquatic death just because they're of drinking age.

Very true... I agree.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Veteran mariners are no less vulnerable to horrible aquatic death just because they're of drinking age.

True, but they're alot braver after getting drunk off Whiskey! 😀

More on topic, this doesn't surprise me one bit. I hope they find the young lass and she's alright.

And I hope her next global sailing adventure isn't alone.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/11/missing.teen.sailor/index.html?hpt=T1

Australian authorities on Friday made contact with a 16-year-old American girl who triggered a distress signal while attempting to sail solo around the world.

But it could be a day before a French fishing vessel pulls Abby Sunderland and her boat, Wild Eyes, to shore, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

"She's in the boat. The boat's seaworthy. It's not taking on water, and she's equipped for the conditions down there, we believe," said Mick Kinley of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Sunderland triggered the distress signal Thursday during rough seas.

"She's been dismasted. The rigging's over the side and in the water," Kinley told reporters Friday.

He said Wild Eyes was in the Southern Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of Perth, Australia, when rescuers contacted her Friday.

"That's a long way from any merchant shipping," he said. "We're just fortunate that the French fishing vessel was in that region."

Family spokesman Christian Pinkston said Sunderland communicated with rescuers via marina radio.

"We know that Australian search and rescue has contacted her ... and she is alive and well," Pinkston said early Friday morning.

Sunderland's parents, Laurence and Marianne, wrote on her blog: "We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!

"We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know."

Earlier Friday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had taken over the search for Sunderland, noting the stormy seas that prompted her to activate her distress beacons had calmed.

"The weather is moderating. It is improving slightly," Carly Lusk of the AMSA said at the time. "Now, it's not perfect, but any improvement in the weather is a positive when you're looking at a search and rescue operation."

Sunderland's vessel is adrift in the middle of the Indian Ocean some 2,000 miles east of Madagascar, 2,000 miles west of Australia and 500 miles north of the French Antarctic Islands.

Sunderland's family began scrambling to organize a search-and-rescue effort for her after they learned her emergency beacon was detected just an hour after they last spoke to her on Thursday, according to Jeff Casher, an engineer on her support team.

The government of Reunion -- a French island -- diverted a fishing boat toward her last known position, but it is not expected to reach the area until Saturday, Casher said. An Australian military ship, more than two days sail away, has also been dispatched, Casher said.

Electronic signals from the boat indicate it is drifting at just a mile per hour, which means it is still afloat but not under sail, Casher said.

Sunderland began her journey from Marina del Rey, California, on January 23 with the goal of sailing her 40-foot boat around the world without stopping. Mechanical troubles forced her to make two stops for repairs, including at Cape Town, South Africa, in May.

She has kept in touch with family and followers through a satellite telephone. Her website has published frequent blog updates, including one posted Wednesday.

"The last few days have (been) pretty busy out here," Sunderland wrote in her last blog entry. "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."

Sunderland is a "very determined" and "very capable sailor," Thomas said.

"She's pretty much unfazed by most everything, but she had been fatigued by this period of winds which she's been going through for several days now," he said.

When Abby's older brother Zac sailed around the world alone last year, with stops, he became the youngest person to ever do so at 17. Mike Perham of the United Kingdom, a younger 17-year-old, took over the distinction weeks later.

Last month, Australian Jessica Watson, days before her 17th birthday, claimed to have become the youngest person to have completed a non-stop, unassisted solo circumnavigation -- a mark held by then 18-year-old Jesse Martin of Australia since 1999.

However, sailing journalists have said -- and her team hasn't disputed -- that Watson's route was less than 21,600 orthodromic nautical miles, which is the length of the equator and the distance generally used for round-the-world sailing records.

Abby has been on a schedule to complete her global journey about two months before her 17th birthday, which is on October 19.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Just saw it on the news before I hopped online. A broken mast will kill the trip every time. At least she's okay. She was doing well, too! Ah well. There's always next year!

 

[Angel77]

The thing I don't understand is how age has anything to do with it. As untold numbers of people have seen, there are plenty of adults who meet the definition of "dumbfuck assery" if it existed in the dictionary.
What I question is the wisdom in sailing across the world ALONE. The most experienced mountaineer would never in a million years consider trekking up Mt. Everest alone, and the Ocean is a million times deadlier (Mount Everest doesn't have species of ravenous snow sharks for one). Evolutionary biologists theorize that life may have gravitated towards and remained on land because it was an far less violent environment than the ocean. hat's right: our pre-human ancestors crawled out onto a barren, dusty continent of dirt to risk dehydration and exposure because it was nicer. That's how dangerous the fucking ocean is.

And while sailors in the past may have made a record of sailing the world alone, the maps that thrill-seekers and record-breakers use were made by PEOPLE; people who brought along additional people called "crews" to assist with the things that had to be done when crossing treacherous, unpredictable, and dangerous terrain where the mathematical possibility of death increases exponentially with each mile. The fewer people you have, the fewer chances you have to save yourself when something goes inevitably wrong.

So the idea of going out on the ocean ALONE at all seems like the dumb idea to me, not here age. Veteran mariners are no less vulnerable to horrible aquatic death just because they're of drinking age.

Agreed there.

Anyhoo, looks like she's going to be ok. Awesome news!

 

[Redmage]

I noticed something interesting looking at comments from news sites about this....

A lot of people seem to be pointing out that whenever people try these dangerous things, it's always taxpayers that end up footing the bill of rescue efforts.

In a way, I understand the disdain for people doing these things when the rest of us have to pay for it if it goes wrong.

It's likely to be private vessels that bring her back. Aiding ships in distress is a uniform maritime responsibility, and sailors take it very seriously.

But a lot of common outdoor activities have the drawback you mention. As a group of examples, just about anything you do in a national park becomes a taxpayer burden if it goes wrong.

 

[c7_assassin]

I'm glad she's okay.

Maybe this will teach her an important lesson I learned long ago: fuck the ocean.

 

[Fire_Sprite]

Just saw it on the news before I hopped online. A broken mast will kill the trip every time. At least she's okay. She was doing well, too! Ah well. There's always next year!

It'll be too late for her to be the youngest then. Ah well. At least she tried for her dream, most people don't get that far.

 

[primetime]

Well, first of all, I am glad to see that Abbey will be ok.

Now, once again, my point is proven. Parents SHOULD NOT LET THEIR MINOR CHILDREN SAIL AROUND THE WORLD BY THEIR DAMN SELVES!!!!!

When I originally posted about this disaster, I said the parents should be investigated for child endangerment. If you leave your kids alone for an hour nowadays, you can get in trouble. Why is it that these parents were allowed to let their son and daughter sail around the globe WITHOUT supervision. Stop the bullshit "the kids are mature to handle it" routine. They are still minors. What stopped her trip? Dangerous waves.

Again, I ask parents, how can you live with yourself knowing your son/daughter is out on the open ocean filled with dangers and you had COMPLETE POWER to prevent harm? Had this turned out tragic, could her parents live with themselves knowing they could have protected their kid from harm. If she was an adult, they can't do nothing, but with a minor, you could prevented the entire disaster. If that had be me, I would have to be turned into an asylum. I couldn't live with myself knowing I sent my child to to their death and I could have stopped it.

Hopefully, we won't have to hear about some irresponsible parents allowing their underage children to undertake some out of the ordinary dangerous stunt, like sailing around the freakin planet on a sailboat ALONE, ever again. I really want to slap the shit out of Abbey Sunderland's parents. Damn idiots.

 

[love feet]

we let people drive at 16 that can be very dangerous to so i do not See
The difrice!!!.

 

[Fire_Sprite]

Well, first of all, I am glad to see that Abbey will be ok.

Now, once again, my point is proven. Parents SHOULD NOT LET THEIR MINOR CHILDREN SAIL AROUND THE WORLD BY THEIR DAMN SELVES!!!!!

Your point is thoroughly unproven. She encountered a problem and handled it as responsibly as any adult.

 

[MrMacphisto]

It's likely to be private vessels that bring her back. Aiding ships in distress is a uniform maritime responsibility, and sailors take it very seriously.

But a lot of common outdoor activities have the drawback you mention. As a group of examples, just about anything you do in a national park becomes a taxpayer burden if it goes wrong.

Good points.

 

[primetime]

There is a major difference between letting your 16 year old kid drive vs sail around the world alone in a sailboat. MAJOR DIFFERENCE. Driving a car is dangerous, but an ocean is a lot more dangerous. Think about it...... If you don't see a difference then you need to really think about the logic...

She handled it responsibly huh? Who the hell cares? She shouldn't have been there. Again, if the rescue did not turn out positive and they found her dead body, how does a parent live down the fact that they let their child do something as dangerous as that? You have the absolute power to prevent a tragedy from happening and you let it go. Losing a child is the worse thing that can ever happen. Let's really think about what they let their child do. Sail around the world ALONE in a sail boat. That is not something people do every day. Might as well let her go swimming with sharks with blood dripping from her legs because she "feels adventurous and mature". What almost cost this GIRL her life? Waves. Dangerous 30 foot waves that could have ended her young life.

She could have tried this expedition as an ADULT. That way she makes her own decisions and her parents can't stop her legally. Now, because these crazy ass parents let their children do this crazy stunt, the parents who were cited for child endangerment need to have a second look and have charges dropped. How the hell do you allow your kid to do something that dangerous? Be a damn responsible parent. The Sunderland's really need to be investigated and charged. Luckily for them, their child made it.....

 

[Redmage]

For me, a couple of things come out of these stories as most interesting.

First, she's fine. Very cool. But the reason she's fine is because she was well-equipped, well-trained, and kept her cool. When her satellite mast went down she stayed with the ship and waited for rescue, because she knew it would be coming. And she had what she needed to hold out until it got there.

Second, it wouldn't have mattered if she'd had an "adult" along. No one could have kept that storm from snapping her mast, and no one with her could have done any more than she did herself, except perhaps keep her company.

 

[Mitchell]

I don't like to be judgemental, but, I really have to question the mental capability and stability of Miss Sunderland's parents.

This situation is quite bizzare. I've heard of teenagers who take cross country trips with friends, or a tour group. I went with a tour group when I was 15. Granted, we had tour leaders who were in their 20s, but, many times the teens split, and explored cities on our own.

This is a completely different situation. Sailing around the world in a sailing craft. There are so many dangers. Sharks, high seas, weather, hurricanes, she could have sailed into a city and been abducted. In so many ways, her very life was in danger.

With her parents being legally responsible for her until she is 18, this really is a form of child endangerment. A similarity would be if she told her parents "I want to go out on a date with a paroled killer, or, a guy whose going to drive 100 mph during the whole date", and the parents would be like "Sure, Abby, do whatever you want". Not!

Parents have a responsibility to do what is in the best interest of their children's safety, even if the child doesnt like it. Had that been my child, there is no way she would have gone on a journey like that.

Mitch

 

[Angel77]

For me, a couple of things come out of these stories as most interesting.

First, she's fine. Very cool. But the reason she's fine is because she was well-equipped, well-trained, and kept her cool. When her satellite mast went down she stayed with the ship and waited for rescue, because she knew it would be coming. And she had what she needed to hold out until it got there.

Second, it wouldn't have mattered if she'd had an "adult" along. No one could have kept that storm from snapping her mast, and no one with her could have done any more than she did herself, except perhaps keep her company.

Agreed.

 

[Master Baiter]

In my view, this incident is only noteworthy because she is just 16. What happened to her could have happened to anyone crazy and egotistical enough to sail around the world solo.

What bugs me about amateur adventurers, of any age, who take their chances against Mother Nature is that when they get into peril fulfilling their dreams, someone whose life is just as valuable to their loved ones has to put their own life on the line and risk losing it to save The Dreamer.

People like her and her family are selfish and self-centered - to take a risk for personal glory that puts them in harms way that can force ordinary folks like the fishermen or selfless professional rescuers to bail you out is fundamentally unfair.

Mom and Dad need to fork out big time to the real heroes who saved her.

Also, what's lost in this whole story is the record she was trying to break was held by her older brother. The whole reason for this amounted to nothing more than an expensive and dangerous sibling rivalry.