Teen sailor Abby Sunderland focus of emergency rescue effort

**Updated at 11 a.m.

A rescue effort has been launched in hope of finding Abby Sunderland, 16, who set off her emergency beacon locating devices from the southern Indian Ocean early this morning.

Sunderland, who had been attempting to sail around the world alone, endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds Thursday before conditions briefly abated.

However, her parents lost satellite phone contact early this morning and an hour later were notified by the Australian Coast Guard that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices had been activated.

One is apparently is attached to a survival suit or a life raft and meant to be used when a person is in the water or aboard a life raft.

Abby's father struggled with emotions and said he didn't know if his daughter was in a life raft or aboard the boat, or whether the boat was upside down.

"Everything seemed to be under control," Laurence Sunderland said. "But then our call dropped and a hour later the Coast Guard called."

Abby is hundreds of miles from land. The nearest ship was about 400 miles away. The rescue effort is being coordinated by the French-controlled Reunion Islands and Australia. Sunderland had been sailing in 50- to 60-foot seas and it was dark when the EPIRB devices were activated.

The Sunderlands are asking people to pray for their daughter, a high-school junior from Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Charlie Nobles, executive director of the American Sailing Assn., said, "We're all praying for her and our thoughts are with her. If she's got the survival suit, and she's got the EPIRB and she's in pretty good shape, she's just got to try to hang on. And when they get there, these guys... they're going to hopefully send the best that they've got to try to do a rescue and it's definitely possible. They're amazing people who do those rescues. They know exactly what they're heading into."

Nobles said a scenario whereby a sailor has to abandon ship might go like this: Water flooding the vessel automatically inflates the life raft, which is tethered to the sailboat. The sailor, if the sailboat is sinking, would grab the boat's EPIRB device and stuff it into a ditch kit, take the ditch kit and deploy and climb aboard the life raft. The sailor would only cut the tether if the sailboat is sinking, pulling down the lifeboat.

Abby was for several months one of two 16-year-olds attempting to sail around the world alone. Australia's Jessica Watson completed her journey last month, just days before turning 17.

Abby's brother Zac, who graduated from high school, completed a solo-circumnavigation last summer at 17.

The timing of Abby's trip was criticized by some because it was going to place her in the middle of the Indian Ocean when the stormy Southern Hemisphere winter was at hand.

-- Pete Thomas

Image of Abby Sunderland courtesy of Gizara Arts

Comments

[HTuttle]

A journey like that requires wise resourcefulness in the face of crisis. All might be fine and easy if nothing goes wrong, as seems to have happened with her brother and the other teen girl, but unexpected emergencies will try a teen far beyond their naive capabilities.

[Collin Russell Chandler]

Are some of you people really implying that the parents should be punished? What if she had wanted to set sail the night before her 18th birthday? Would she really be so different then if she had waited till the next morning? Numbers are meaningless in situations and activities like this that are perfectly legal and involve a degree of risk. This wasn't your average teenager we're talking about. She was more mature and far more capable of this journey then many people who are in their 30's and 40's. Age does not equate to skill or ability. She loved to do this and her parents supported her.

Many of you who are blaming the parents probably would have said nothing if you read about her starting this trip when she did. The only people who are placing the blame on them are the ones who were never there as she started to follow her dream.

[Reg]

We all hope Abby makes it ok. The Australians are very skilled in maritime search and rescue, particularly in the Indian / Southern Ocean.
Lets hope they get there in time.

Reg Claybrook

[will]

WORST PARENTS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

[Capt. Suz Wallace]

Sailors are a fine, strong, intelligent breed that LIVE for challenging themselves against the elements. Sailors also collect sea miles as experiential learning trials...I don't know any sailors whom put themselves out in the face of REAL long distance, open-ocean passages without being overly prepared and have every possible scenario already well thought out. Sailors are problem-solvers and are acutely aware of how severe conditions are and harness them.
I'm sorry, but all these folks on the "coddling" side of parenting need to go coddle their children and leave us sailors to our own over-the-top-achievers......it is the SAILING that builds our sons and daughters characters so they are capable of such challenges. There is NO COMPARISON between these kinds of kids and kids whom are raised by fear and coddling~
I have faith that Abby is making all the right decisions and following safety protocol, but sometimes sh&&#^%t happens! Godspeed Abby~

[Linda]

People have a heart! We should keep our negative comments to ourselves whether we agree or disagree. Use your energy with positive thoughts rather than crucifying people for their decisions.

[Butch Blawd]

Cooler heads will prevail, and please lay off the day after quarterbacking. I completly support Abby's efforts, her team, family, and sponsors. I am anxiously waiting for some good news and will be checking for it frequently. You all hang in there!

[Jasun]

The world is ruled by fools and thieves
With a flair for power and a taste for greed
Now ask yourself do you feel betrayed?
'Cause nothing ever changes when we pray

Let's face it... this was just more parents whoring out their kid for fame. This was probably a publicity stunt for a reality show. Oh well... I'm sure they have a kid that wrestles alligators or something.

[Anise62]

Parents will now depend on others to risk their lives to search for Abby. Learning a skill like sailing is an admirable ambition for anyone of any age. This was reckless decision of the parents however and not an acceptable risk or challenge for a child. This was very selfish.

[Charmin24]

Experience:
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102689&st=1725&p=2861613&hl=littlecat&fromsearch=1&#entry2861613

[A. Webb]

This is very sad and frightening. I pray for her safe return. I'm sure she is skilled and her parents weighed in on the risks. My question is what motivates people to take these risks at such young ages. When you've done that at 16, what do you have to look forward to the rest of your life? Do you have to plan events each year or so to top the one you've just done? I don't get it.

My daughter climbed Mt. Fuji at 24, it wasn't Mt. Everest, but it was an accomplishment to her non-the-less. Anything you accomplish in life is just as precious even if you have to wait until you're 40 to do it.

The risks our young people take at such an early age is something that needs to be analyzed. Did she feel she had to beat her brother's record? Did she need this as some sort of self validation? Again we don't know her nor her parents, but if it wasn't about competition, why not wait until there was better weather or until she was older. What is the rush? Live Life, don't let Life Live you. Praying for a safe return.

[Charmin24]

More current and background info
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102689&view=findpost&p=2879131

[Jamie]

Who is going to pay the rescue bill? If these people want to make these journeys then fine. However they should be truly solo. They should either sign a DO NOT RESCUE waiver and be left to drown or they should be made fully responsible for the cost of rescue operations if required. I don't work my arse off and pay taxes to help bail out adventurers when things get tough. It is especially galling when these guys often set out with the secondary goal of making money from book sales and publicity.

[Dire Lobo]

To "Californiaflame":

" If they've got the money to support this kind of lifestyle in the first place, surely they could afford to hire a skipper to follow behind her in a boat in the even of an emergency????"

This is simply not feasible. The Sunderlands are not "Rich" - the boat and gear was all donated by sponsors. The cost of a second boat would be prohibitive, even if you could find a skipper to volunteer. Secondly, it is not really possible to keep 2 small boats in proximity to each other in the sea even in good/decent weather, let alone in conditions like these. Perhaps the two could stay within 100 miles of each other, but, if the boat in trouble was UPWIND of the second boat, even if it was 20-30 miles, in conditions like this, the second boat wouldn't stand a chance of getting "back" to where the first boat is, and doing so would put the second boat's crew at grave grave risk.

[Donna Hix]

Certainly, all thoughts and prayers are with this child and her family -- that she be found safe and well. And, obviously, the courage, talent, confidence, and determination it takes to motivate anyone to attempt such an incredible and perilous feat are admirable traits and would likely serve this lovely, bright, impressive young woman well in all areas of life.

However, this is a tragic situation on many levels. For a 16-year-old child, not yet old enough to possess a drivers' license in some states, nor to to serve in the military, to hold most professional jobs, to consume alcohol, or to purchase a pack of cigarettes (due to the danger involved!), to be allowed to sail out into the middle of an ocean, with nary a ship, mass of land, nor other human being within 400 miles, and weather totally unprodictable, is absolutely ludicrous! And it amazes and appalls me that this could be allowed to happen!!!

The reason children are not permitted to make choices to engange in most obviously high-risk behaviors, including those mentioned above, is that the human brain is not fully formed during the teen years, and a teen does not possess the same powers of reasoning and judgment that an older person, whose brain is fully developed, at age 25, possesses. That's why, as teens, we often make very impulsive decisions, ignore major risks, and act out in ways that, at 25, we would never consider. A teen tends to feel invincible; and, while she may know, intellectually, that a tragic accident could end her life, she doesn't tend to feel that anything bad can truly happen to HER.

No underage child should be allowed to make decisions that would put her life at serious risk in a way that is completely predictable and totally unnecessary. At age 21 or 30, possibly established in a meaningful career and/or with kids/a family of her own, Abby might not have made the same choice to risk her life in this way. But, even if she did, she would be making it as an adult, fully capable of accepting responsibility for her own actions, risks, and consequences.

Parents should be making better decisions to protect a child of this age; and, failing that, the state of California should have laws in place that prevent this type of obvious child endangerment to happen in view of everyone. It's sad to think of how many adults who should have known better -- family, government & child welfare officials, sailing enthusiasts, journalists, crew members/advisors, bloggers, etc. -- encouraged or ignored this situation, though every adult knew full well that this very thing could happen and that, if so, this kid could be so far out to sea alone that any rescue attempt could be many hours or even days in the making.......Unbelievable!

I noticed that Abby has a line of products for sale with her own logo -- "Aby16." Obviously, the "16" portion of that logo is significant in that she would have been the youngest person to make the trip alone -- a record holder -- vastly increasing the marketability of her and her product line. I understand a more dangerous time of year than necessary was even chosen for her potentially deadly journey -- when hazardous winter storms were more likely in the Indian Ocean -- to accomodate her becoming the youngest person to accomplish this. Being a record holder is wonderful, as are the profits that can be associated with it. But, when it comes to allowing a child to risk her life in order for that to happen, that practice should not be permitted. The laws in place to protect children fail them miserably when something like this slips through the cracks, and our system needs some serious revision around this type of situation.......May Abby come home safely and her plight serve as the impetus for change in laws that could protect a child from this type of risk and potentially deadly fate in future.

[Kerry]

Praying for Abby's safe return...didnt follow until I saw on the news...God speed.

[Phil]

Everything in life is a risk. Living in cotton wool and doing nothing is a risk. Who is best to assess the risks? You, or your parents if you are younger, or someone else? Who would you like to control your life? Good luck Abby!

[J.Palato]

Hey Dan.. I may be stupid. But I will do everything in my power to make sure my kids have their 18th birthday in the sheltered home that my wife and i provide. Just because a child wants to do something does not mean they should.

[Dan Horstman]

All of you who are saying this is child endangerment are stupid. The parents knew the danger, Abby knew the danger and this is something she wanted to do. You get nowhere in this life if you don't take risks. Go ahead and shelter and protect your children and then when they get to the real world, the few of us who have actually lived and been toughened up by our mistakes will eat your children for breakfast. I see it all the time. Pampered kids who haven't ever had to do anything on their own get nowhere in this life. Those of us who took some risks and survived are kickin butt.

[iflyboeing777s]

At sixteen, our children can not even engage in a contract of any sort, can not vote, can not do many things because they lack the judgement and maturity to do these things. Although I am now an accomplished career pilot, I was getting my private pilot's license at 16. FAA regulations said I COULD take my required cross country solo flight, but my parents put their foot down and refused to pay for any more lessons if I took that flight. I practiced for a couple more years and did my solo cross country at 18 years old. THANK GOD my parents stopped me. At 16 I felt indestructible and took many risks I would not take today. It didn't hurt me to wait and it may have saved my life. Abby's parents should have stopped her. No amount of publicity is worth the life of my children. Too many people die attempting world records. We are supposed to stop our children from taking adult risks. My children don't like the boundaries we set often times, but that is my wife's and my primary job before anything else. Shame on this child's parents.

[David]

I have been sailing for over 15 years. I have been in three knockdowns and have experienced sailing in the pitch of night under 50 knot winds. This was no place for a 16 year old sailing alone!

Her parents should have considered the risk of this "adventure", listened to other sailors who said it was the wrong time of year to take this voyage and said NO.

A young girls life is in danger and the parents either were irresposiblile or to busy being a friend to their daughter instaad of parents.

Sorry I had to say this but there it is.

[Sea Watcher]

I have to agree with Lance as those have been my silent thoughts while following both girls. Stopping in Cabo was the first warning for Team Abby. Stopping in Cape Town was the second. In good faith, I feel that a record was more important than safety. Sailors who know the Southern Ocean knew this wasn't the time. If it were only a dream of hers to solo circumnavigate and there was no record to be broken, why didn't they wait until the seas were more forgiving.

[J.Palato]

T.J. Simers tried to warn the family this would happen. He wrote several articles for the L. A. Times and was slammed for calling this child endangerment. I am sorry for her situation, but she and her family knew this could happen.

[john]

all of abby,s skills wisdom and experience are a great strength, my son nick just finished a round the world solo in a 26 foot contessa i was alert and tuned in every day,and just remembered who he was every day, abby is strong all of us send our love and wishes for the best outcome john

[Nelson Mattos Filho]

VA em Abby frete, VOCÊ Já Mostrou ao Mundo Que Forte e grande e Uma velejadora. www.diariodoavoante.wordpress.com