16-year-old girl starts solo sail around globe

[demoleft]

Source: ap

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. – A 16-year-old has set out to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.

Abby Sunderland of Thousand Oaks sailed into the sunny Pacific Ocean on Saturday after being delayed a few days by a series of violent storms in California.

Her boat-builder father, Laurence, along with other family members and fiends, cheered at the Del Rey Yacht Club as they watched the 40-foot craft called Wild Eyes depart.

She plans to be at sea for five or six months. She will be alone but able to communicate via satellite telephone and a blog (at abbysunderland.com).

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100124/ap_on_sp_ot/us_girl_s_solo_voyage

---

two teens sailing around the world. she makes a pair with jessica watson.
the spirit of adventure embodied.

[FBaggins]

1. Good for her!

Safe journeys Abby.

[naaman fletcher]

2. Go girl! nt.

[Enrique]

3. family members and fiends

heh...

Her boat-builder father, Laurence, along with other family members and fiends, cheered at the Del Rey Yacht Club as they watched the 40-foot craft called Wild Eyes depart.

[here_is_to_hope]

4. Jessica suffered a few knockdowns yesterday and last night

She is fine but the Ella took a beating in the 65 knot gusts and 20 meter waves...
Good luck to both!

http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/

[Robb]

5. So now there are two rich kids sailing and blogging around the world...

...I'm sorry, I know it's a grand adventure and will be difficult and dangerous and I shouldn't react this way, but I do.

Same reaction I have to Branson. It's a knee-jerk thing, I'm sure they're both great kids.

[Stuckinthebush]

6. Same here Robb

I am sure she is a great girl but I have to wonder about the sanity of her parents.

I would also get a lot more warm fuzzy feelings about a headline that read "Wealthy 16 year old donates proceeds from boat sale for Haiti relief"

[Robb]

7. Yeah

But at the same time, who I am I tell her she must do these things in the name of charity, blah blah blah.

[Stuckinthebush]

8. Indeed

Critical analysis should always lead to an internal, reflexive analysis.

sigh

[Kolesar]

9. I wish my father was a millionaire

I'd be hanging out in the mountains and living our of my 4x4 for extended periods. But I get by with my Chevy compact and 40/hrs a week in the cubicle.

[Robb]

63. Indeed.

I won't begrudge them the journey, it's an amazing thing. I'd be off in a heartbeat.

It's still a thing of privilege, though.

[JI7]

49. how do you know she(or family) haven't donated ? you can say the same

about anyone who is more wealthy than anyone in Haiti. use the money you spend on things like eating out, movies etc for Haiti instead.

[Stuckinthebush]

86. Yeah, yeah

Read the above post by Robb and me detailing the role of critical self analysis in these exercises.

[Frisbee]

11. Agreed.... I wish her success, but...

should the worst happen, I would hope her parents would be charged with endangering a minor at the very least.

[rury]

12. And child

neglect!

[FBaggins]

18. Oh please.

Boys used to go to sea before they were even teenagers. In war time no less.

Just because most kids these days have an artificially extended period of adolescence doesn't mean that no teenagers are capable of assuming adult roles... and I sure hope that your opposition isn't because she's a young woman.

I think her parents are more than capable of determining whether she's a competent sailor. After all, their son was once the youngest to make it around the world.

[Codeine]

31. Ridiculous.

We have the most absurd relationship with age and maturity these days. These ladies would have been adults with full responsibilities in any other era. I applaud their bravery and audacity.

[FBaggins]

16. You're right.

You shouldn't react that way.

[The Backlash Cometh]

32. You can only follow your dreams if you're rich.

First Axiom of Citizenship in the US.

[demoleft]

47. at least she does not buy her dreams. she lives them. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

53. You give me a forty foot yacht with lessons,

and I'LL live her dream. Gladly.

[demoleft]

54. i would as well. so if she has the privilege to have it, i'm happy she enjoys it that way. n/t

[FBaggins]

60. What makes everyone assume they're rich?

I've only seen the family refered to as middle-class. These trips have been donor/sponsor-supported.

This isn't some rich kid whose daddy bought her a $300,000 boat for her birthday.

[The Backlash Cometh]

62. You're right.

I wish them a safe journey, regardless of social status.

[Robb]

65. Because they live in Thousand Oaks, and dad runs a yacht management company

You're right, they might be middle class in Thousand Oaks, but when the median home price is $700,000, middle class looks pretty good.

[FBaggins]

67. That 700k median home price is from 2007.

and I think that median household income for TO is in the 90k range. I think those are pretty firmly middle-class numbers for California.

Reasonable attractive for most of the country, but far from "rich".

[JI7]

48. i think it's better rich kids do something like this where they can learn and experience

things about the world than just party all day and spend money on crap.

[demoleft]

51. agreed. n/t

[Imajika]

78. I kinda had that reaction too..

Your not the only one.

I wish them well, and probably shouldn't let politics jade my view of such things, but I have to admit I had the same reaction.

Nothing to dwell on ofcourse, but my first thought was "great, so now were going to focus on the adventures of a couple rich kids sailing around the world instead of the millions of people who are struggling just to get by". I know we can walk and chew gum at the same time, but I can't help but hope not too much time is spent reporting on this when so many more pressuring issues cry out for media attention.

Anyway, I concede I am probably wrong to think this way. I do wish them the best of luck.

[treestar]

10. Has she dropped out of school?

[FBaggins]

19. She is homeschooled.

She may very well be done with highschool. I think her brother finished his HS work before he set sail a few years ago.

Regardless... she's likely to learn more over the next 5-6 months that 95% of kids in school. Talk about the ultimate field trip.

[stubtoe]

13. What! Are her parents nuts?!

Jeeze louise, at least wait till she's 18... this is madness

[unabelladonna]

14. irresponsible parents

i know i'm supposed to feel good about this but i don't. she's 16. she should be at home doing school work and i know i sound like a "party pooper", but that's the way i feel.

[Exultant Democracy]

15. yep

[regnaD kciN]

75. Does anyone remember Robin Graham...?

Robin was a 16-year-old who left on a solo circumnavigation forty-five years ago, and made it (although he took the trip in stages, stopping in ports along the way, and took more than four years to return). Still, considering the improvements in both boat construction and navigation, this doesn't seem too outlandish by comparison. Or is it because Abby is a girl that this is somehow "different"...?

[tXr]

85. Oh, yeah. Like many schoolkids in the 70s, I read his autobiography.

He started his solo circumnavigtion at the age of 16 (which took ~5 years to complete as he took time to explore interesting places along the way), long before the invention of GPS, on a 24-foot boat.

An amazing story set in a much less hysterically restrictive era.

[Brother Buzz]

17. That's a lot of boat

When I was a kid, my parents let me drive the station wagon, never the Ferrari. Is that a stainless steel propane BBQ fastened to the railing on the stern?

Unlike Joshua Slocum, she has three choices these days: Cape Horn, Panama canal, or the Northwest passage. Good luck girl.

[FBaggins]

20. Would you sail the Southern Ocean in anything smaller?

She's using Cape Horn BTW.

[Brother Buzz]

25. Brother Zac opted for Panama

I hope she makes the proper decision when the time comes. Just reading historical accounts of rounding the Horn make me cold and miserable.

"She plans to attempt something Zac didn't: complete a nonstop, unassisted journey that involves rounding treacherous Cape Horn. However, the favorable weather window for that task is closing, so Abby might opt for crossing the continent via the Panama Canal. That would remove the "nonstop, unassisted" elements and a major obstacle from her adventure."

[FBaggins]

29. Imagine being in that family.

She's apparently the second oldest of seven kids.

"Sorry Billy... you can't get your drivers' license until you've completed your circumnavigation". :)

Yes... her brother selected the canal. I suspect that she has the option too if the trip takes longer than expected and/or winter sets in early.

[Brother Buzz]

30. Oh you edited

Forty feet is an ideal size for short handed sailing. I question the design. When you trade stability for speed you end up with a tender boat, something I would not desire for the Southern Ocean. I suspect there will be times she would wish she could trade the Ferrari for the station wagon. That, or hot bunk with a short crew.

[FBaggins]

40. This very vessel has already done it.

I think I read that she came in second in a solo circumnavigation race a few years ago.

[Brother Buzz]

46. Yes, but not skippered by a sixteen-year-old

That forty-foot boat has only 2000 pounds ballast, that's tender. She runs a good chance of encountering a couple of full blown knock-downs, assuming she doesn't lose the stick on the first one.

[Pavulon]

50. Holy shit, I sailed 40's with 10 - 12000 lbs

of ballast and a depending on how much sail was up I kinda wanted more. 40's generate a significant amount of pressure, lots of work even with 3 speed high dollar winches.

[FBaggins]

56. The vessel isn't any different for who is at the helm

The point is that it's a very capable vessel.

As for ballast? There's about a ton of lead WELL below where a normal vessel carries "ballast" that isn't getting counted (the "bulb" on the keel).

I suspect that you'll find the ballast/displacement ratio is actually pretty solid. As I said... she was designed for this very kind of trip. If you think about it, there's quite a bit of "ballast" that you aren't considering. A non-stop round-the-world voyage involves at least a couple thousand pounds of water alone. Likely at least that much in food... and fuel.

In fact - in order to qualify for the race that she was in ... she must be self-righting in anything short of a total turtle. The cabin is also water-tight and has an escape hatch.

[Brother Buzz]

61. You mean like Adler's Fast 40 deep keel design?

:rofl:

[FBaggins]

64. Was that an "oh... I didn't realize that" ?

Can I make it any simpler for you? You said that she could expect a coupe knock-downs... Wild Eyes is well designed to handle that. Implying that Wild Eyes has insufficient ballast is simply wrong.

[Brother Buzz]

66. No, the boat is built light to go fast

A knock-down is a strong possibility.

[FBaggins]

70. You're confusing displacement and stability.

A boat can be plenty "light" and still be appropriately ballasted and plenty stable. Or put more precisely, plenty seaworthy.

You said that you question the design... when she was designed for just this kind of trip. You said that they traded stability for speed... when that really isn't the tradeoff. It's closer to "comfort for speed".

As I said... a "knock down" is possible, but her craft is designed to take it.

[BallardWA]

21. Good Luck and God Speed to her, she'll need it-

The Horn is no easy navigation, even for a seasoned CREW. My friend is on a research boat at this very minute waiting for things to calm down so they can navigate the Horn. Here's their site:
http://www.aroundtheamericas.org/log/?p=725

I can't help but feel that this wasn't properly thought through...

[FBaggins]

22. Her brother already made the trip

He was the record holder prior to the guy from Britain last year.

She may very well not make it... but it won't be for lack of planning or "thinking through".

[Bette Noir]

23. I'm proud of her, and I envy her.

I wanted to do exactly the same thing, when I was a teenager.

I'm glad her parents have given her the chance, in spite of the opposition of all the strangers who think they know how to raise their daughter better than they do. Right to privacy and self-determination, anybody?

[unabelladonna]

38. great, let her parents indulge her little fantasy

of being this great adventuress, but if things get bad who do you think will pay for her rescue. sorry, whether male or female 16 is too young. if my daughter came up with a scheme like that i wouldn't allow it.
yawn, stay tuned for the TV movie of the week.

[Dappleganger]

58. 16 yr. olds can be quite resourceful.

At that age my parents let me fly to Haiti w/a friend for the first time (30 years ago during Baby Doc's rule). My friend was very street savvy, however and I listened to her advice closely in order to stay safe.

[demoleft]

43. i am as well, of them both. so go girls, full sails. n/t

[IcyPeas]

24. One word: Pirates

I wonder if someone is "spotting" or filming it, or will she really be alone? I'd be scared of pirates, seriously.

[FBaggins]

26. Pirates where?

The closest to pirates in the Southern Ocean are the Sea Shephard group... and they're more likely to help her.

The pirates you read about are off the coast of Africa (largely Somalia), but are thosands of miles away from her course.

[Longhorn Liberal]

33. Piracy can, and does, exist outside of African waters

The pirates you read about off the coast of Africa are not the only naval bandits operating.

www.csmonitor.com/2004/0318/p13s02-woap.html

[FBaggins]

39. So 5-6 years ago there were other pirates that ALSO far from her course?

As I said.. she really isn't on a course through areas where you would expect pirates.

Let's just say that on the list of risks she's taking, pirates aren't way up there.

[Longhorn Liberal]

41. More recent data

I was not refuting your point that she will most likely enjoy a voyage free of harassment from pirates, only that maritime piracy is limited to the coastal waters of Africa alone.

International Maritime Bureau’s Live Piracy Map 2010

A Brief Trip to Pirate Island

I too think she has more to fear from nature than humans. I applaud her, but I could not do the same. Not being able to see through water to the ground gives me the willies. I'll stick to the mountains and forests for my adventure, tyvm.

[FBaggins]

57. Did I say that it was limited to coastal waters of Africa alone?

What I said was that this was where the vast majority of it takes place... and your map confirms this. Really nothing in 2009 within a thousand miles of her course across the southern ocean.

[Longhorn Liberal]

73. You implied it, yes

The poster you responded to did not mention Somali pirates, you did. The poster you responded mentioned something every sailor should be wary of, piracy on the high seas (although the chances are low of actually becoming a victim of it). Piracy exists everywhere, it is not isolated to one particular area of the planet.

And the map I linked to is of attacks in the past month, not 2009. And her route takes her off the northwestern coast of South America, where attacks have been made been made in each of the past five years and as recently as January 20, 2010. IMB Piracy Incident Report 2010

However, she most likely has a higher chance of slipping on the deck and breaking her leg than being attacked by pirates.

[FBaggins]

74. Lol... "implied" and "inferred" are not the same thing.

The poster you responded to did not mention Somali pirates, you did

This is because those ARE the pirates that are in the press these days. I ALSO began the post by talking about how far her S.O. course it from common pirate locations... and THEN narrowed that down to those common areas. I most certainly didn't imply that those were the ONLY pirates around.

And the map I linked to is of attacks in the past month, not 2009.

But you can adjust it to show the entire year... and there's nothing down there.

However, she most likely has a higher chance of slipping on the deck and breaking her leg than being attacked by pirates.

That was my point. There are also fifty OTHER things that are more likely to be concerns than pirates. Yet judging from the posts here it's right up at the top.

[Butch350]

36. I agree. There are a lot more dangerous things out there than wind and water.

[Pavulon]

45. Yourself

your are most likely to make errors that kill you. The wind and water are just the mechanism. Sailing is complex and inherently dangerous.

[krabigirl]

27. I think it's awesome.

[krabigirl]

28. I think it's awesome.

[Botany]

34. This has really bad idea written all over it.

But I wish her well.

although I did some like it a few years ago ..... call me Thor

[benld74]

35. Next sea rescue in 3,2,1,,,

[barb162]

37. If I had a 16 yr old , I would not be allowing this.

It's dangerous for even very serious, very experienced sailors. What's wrong with age 21?

[hayu_lol]

42. Kudos to an experienced youngster...

this girl is no novice, no matter her family background.

We had 16 year old males in the army in WWII...yeah, they lied to enlist. Going back further, we had drummer boys and powder monkeys in the Navy from 9-10 up.

Lots of risks to be sure, but both men and women take the same risks at 18 today in the armed forces.

This effort is now entirely in her own hands. All the family money, background, experience pale in comparison.

Bon Voyage.

[FBaggins]

59. I think that the knee-jerk reaction is...

..."I'm 30/40/50 and I couldn't possibly do this. Therefore no 16 year old could do it"

Or "MY child would be incapable of this and I'm a good parent... therefore no other child can safely do it"

[Posteritatis]

68. Among other things, anyway

I like the "it would magically be alright in two years," "a 16 year old might as well be a toddler," and "the southern ocean is crawling with pirates" kneejerks, myself.

[Pavulon]

44. I used to sail a bit

deep water sailing is extremely technical and dangerous. Everything is can kill you. Hopefully she has the backing and logistics support of an experienced bunch. Experienced sailors die in regattas, men and women with decades of actual time on open water are killed every year.

A two week sail from the US to the bahamas is mentally trying with 3 experienced crew members on a 50' ocean rigged boat.

A few thoughts.

Who is pulling watches? 40' is the minimum I would consider for true offshore work, even rigged with an ocean keel. That is not a big boat.

Boats continually break, unless she has years experience with motors, rigging, and electrical I would not consider this near safe. I assume someone paid the money to make everything redundant.

Unless this kid has an exceptional level of maturity and experience this is dangerous. The ocean is unforgiving and does not tolerate error. People die day sailing.

[sam sarrha]

52. this is not good.... some pirate will eat her for lunch or sell her for a sex slave, or keep her for

one... i have been in a few far places at 6'6" tall, 230 pounds and wondered if i'd get out alive..

this is really stupid..

[tonysam]

91. I'll be surprised if she ever comes back

The parents are going to have horrible guilt if that is the case.

[superconnected]

55. I don't think this is a good idea because of her age. My parents were very leary about taking

me, my brother and sister out of the country before we were under 18. The countries we were going to were the factor in the discussions. I wouldn't let my own kid do this if I had one. So I'm against this. It's stupid imo. This kid can see the world when she's an adult.

"The current record holder is 17-year-old Mike Perham of Britain, who took the mark last year from Abby's then-17-year-old brother Zac."

Ah, I see. Her parents are trying to keep the record in the family. I'm convinced their reasons are only to win a record. So the story has the kid out in a storm experienced adults in sailing would find challenging. This is severely dumb.

[regnaD kciN]

77. I doubt it's her parents...

More likely, she wants to follow in her brother's footsteps. The whole family's been sailing all their lives, so these kids have a ton of experience. If and when she completes the voyage, I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the younger siblings attempt it when they turn 16, too.

[HooptieWagon]

95. Think Little League Parents on steroids... n/t

[Quantess]

69. She had better make it home in one piece or I'm going to be pissed off.

She had better not mess this up!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

71. I hope she's planning to sail around the south side of Oz

because from the north shore of Australia to the south shore of SE Asia, there be pirates.

http://yachtpals.com/pirates-yachts-4092

She'd get a good price on the slave market. Arrr.

Anyway, best of luck to her.

:hi:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

72. Deleting - duplicate - nt

[Haole Girl]

76. Hope she makes it...

safe and sound!

[HooptieWagon]

79. Count me in the "This is not good" camp.

As a poster above noted, 2100 lbs of ballast is VERY light, and will not right the boat when (not if) it turtles, and this self-righting problem is compounded by the wide beam and shallow hull shape. In a nutshell, the boat will be as stable upside down as it is rightside up. The boat is suitable for a RACE, where competitors are assuming extra risk as a trade off for speed. Since Abby isn't racing, it seems foolish not to sail a somewhat safer, albeit slower, design (although no boat would be completely risk free). I say this as a very experienced sailor, boat-builder, and sail-maker.

Secondly, although this may be Abby's "lifelong dream", the execution of it appears rushed. They only purchased the boat in New England in Oct, had troubles with it trying to sail it to Cali (Abby, her dad, and Zac), and abandoned the trip in Ft Lauderdale and had the boat shipped from there. They didn't get it to LA until Dec, meaning preparations were hurried, and there certainly hasn't been time for Abby to fully learn the boat and how to handle it in all conditions, and her sailing background could not possibly include much experience handling a boat of this type, let alone by herself.

Since she's sailing non-stop, there isn't the possibility of visiting foreign countries and learning other cultures. Pure and simple, this is a stunt, and I don't think a very responsible one. Where does it stop? Do we soon hear about a pre-teen attempting to break the record? While I hope she makes it, I'd like to see an end to these stunts before a tragedy occurs.

I read upthread a mention of pirates. On the route she's sailing, the chances of her encountering pirates is minimal. There would be far greater probability of being mugged at a shopping mall at home. The greatest danger will be capsizing in the Southern Ocean (which happens even to experienced sailors aboard fully crewed boats), hull failure on the leg from Hawaii home (this is a couple thousand miles against the wind - the tired boat is going to be pounding badly), and of course the mast, keel, or rudder could fail at any point. I don't think Abby has the experience to deal with emergencies like that, should they arise.

[FBaggins]

80. A "very experienced boat-builder and sailor" who would say

"when (not if) it turtles"

Is that responsible? It certainly isn't true.

suitable for a RACE, where competitors are assuming extra risk as a trade off for speed.

Again... that's simply untrue. Competitor sacrifice comfort for additional speed. Any additional risk they assume comes from how they sail it. As I said a number of times up thread, unlike the other craft you hint at, this vessel is deisnged to make exactly this trip... a solo circumnavigation.

Is there zero risk? Of course not, but this is the ideal craft for her to make the trip in. It doesn't become less so when she turns 18... or 20.

Also keep in mind that the higher speed means a much shorter trip and more options for avoiding weather. Both impact the safety of the entire voyage.

[HooptieWagon]

90. Jessica Watson just took 4 knockdowns, one was 180 degrees.

http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/
Her boat is substantially heavier, stronger, and more stable than Abby's.

Yes, it is certain that Abby will be knocked down. If she's lucky, the boat will right itself, and suffer little damage. If she's not lucky... well, obviously the stability of the boat is in question because it's got an escape hatch on the transom (unnecessary if the boat is self-righting). You might educate yourself by reading up on the 1998 Sydney Hobart Race, held in conditions similar to what Abby is going to face. Many boats were rolled over, heavily damaged, and sunk. Several boats remained inverted, at least one of the several deaths in the race was a sailor trapped under an inverted boat and drowned. This all happened only 50 miles offshore, well within range of rescue chopper crews. Abby will be well out of range of quick rescue for most of her trip. It could be several days until a ship could be diverted to rescue her. And of course, if she needs to be rescued, the rescuers are then put in danger... is this justifiable so a 16 year old can attempt a stunt?

And you are wrong about the safety margins - they have been cut to a slim line in the quest for speed on racing boats. Now it is not uncommon for keels to fall off (keels of the type Abby's boat has), that was unheard of 30 years ago. Plus the boat already was delaminated when they bought it (more evidence of strength reduced to a minimum), were the repairs done properly and tested? It doesn't seem like there was time.

The boat is an acceptable craft for an experienced sailor willing to take risks to win a race. Abby is not very experienced, not competing in a race; and teenagers in general are poor judges of risk - so my opinion is that her boat was not a suitable choice. I do hope she makes it though, it would sadden me to say "I told you so".

[Blandocyte]

81. I thought she going to teach in poverty-stricken school districts

My mistake. Well, I guess sailing the boat will make for more book sales.

:puke:

[Odin2005]

82. Good for her!

[slackmaster]

83. Has she crashed into anything yet?

:hide:

[ShortnFiery]

84. She did pass by a tiny raft filled with gun nuts. Fortunately, she just sailed away

from them as they were too busy OBSESSING with each other over slogans in support of their GOD ALMIGHTY 2nd Amendment Rights. :P

[jaksavage]

87. If she dies...

Are her parents responsible?
Here in OR we have a case of a family that believes in faith healing and let their son die from a urinary infection, instead of going to a doctor.
Is this different?

Damn my parents for not being cool and connected.

[fascisthunter]

88. naive

hope they survive, because those parents will feel very bad if this goes wrong, and I have to believe a 16 year-old isn't experienced enough, but maybe I am wrong.

[HooptieWagon]

94. No, you're not wrong. n/t

[On the Road]

89. The Only Thing I Have to Add

is a link to a fantastic song on the Gypsy Moth's solo circumnavigation of the globe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E36JaBiYI0g

[jberryhill]

92. News From Australia

Sydney (AP) - Shamus the adolescent great white shark has announced he is in training for a rare two-teenager consumption event sometime within the next few weeks.

[ShortnFiery]

93. ...