Great News! This whole situation will stoke her fire to complete this journey more. I'll bet she'll be planning her next trip soon and going over the details of what happened and use that knowledge & experience to try it again. All indications of this incident point to how well prepared she was going in to a trip of this magnitude and that her safety measures worked according to design. It takes a clear head, intelligence and, bravery to be able to do what she has done in those seas. I really respect her and her family. I can't wait to hear her interview when she is safely on land.

should be interestin

Growing up on sailboats and now going to sea for a profession, granted my work is 2+ football fields long, I have always regarded people who want to go solo around the world as mostly nuts whether your 16 or 60 on a great built boat or pos. To each his own.

Boats head to teen sailor drifting in Indian Ocean - Yahoo! News

planes, ships ... all for a kid wanting some recoginition from the sailing community.
Send the bill to:
Mr & Mrs. Sunderland

I'm sick of the extreme culture - somebody needs to poison some Mountain Dew.

Make sure to bitch at the guys wetsuiting MTK and Brenton Reef. :rotf2:

In today's crazy society. One could argue that being on alone on a boat in the middle of the ocean is a lot safer than being alone in a city at 16. And to say that a stint in Iraq is safer than a round the world trip is just not comparable. No one is shooting at you, no one is trying to blow you up. I still think the choice of boat was a mistake. That's a lot of boat to handle.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Question.

If this girl were really "qualified" to make this trip, wouldn't she set a sea anchor, ride out the storm, clear the mess, then rig an an A-frame, use her boom as a jury rig, then turn and head downwind for safety.

Dragging other people into danger to save your own skin from trouble of your own making hardly seems like a great life lesson. Isn't the real value of a solo circumnavigation to test one's self-sufficiency?

Not even close to the truth. She openly says she doesn't care about records, etc. Plus the record wasn't even going to be broken because she stopped at Cape Town for repairs. She could have ended the quest there if it was all about the recognition and records. She's doing it for your passion of the sea and accomplishing and testing her inner strength. It's got nothing to do with recognition from the sailing community IMO. In regards to the bill....that's why we have rescue services for this. Does the Coast Guard charge for their rescues around here?

Then why do it this time of year?



The should for some of them

I remember being 16 and telling my dad I wanted to join the Army on my first possible opportunity. He never tried to talk me out of it. I was passionate and focused on making it happen. I did all my homework on early entry, pro's and con's covered and I had a recruiter come over for dinner. My mom was sick about it. At 17 I joined with parental consent. My Mom kept asking will he be safe, etc. The recruiter pointed out at 17 when I go out with my friends in their cars, etc will my parents know what I'm doing, where I'm going, etc. At least they would know exactly where I am and the training I am receiving would empower me for my future. I was so focused on making that happen in my life. That summer before my senior year I did basic and then after graduation I completed my MOS training and went to college. How many parents today would let their 17 year old join the military while still in high school? I give my parents credit for having faith in my dreams. That and I think it also helped that my dad was a Vietanm era vet and I was a royal PIA back then, so he thought I could use the dicipline from good ole uncle sam! I respect your views on this big time but I can relate to this kid somehow and also to the parents now that I have a kid approaching that age.

Oh, and thanks for your service man! I never saw or experienced what you did in Iraq and I'm thankful for guys and gals like you that served during troubled times. Thanks man!

[QUOTE=RIROCKHOUND;773170]Then why do it this time of year?



It had to do with her school work and being able to graduate with her class. Otherwise her graduation would have been delayed a year. She took her school work for the rest of the year with her on board so she could get credit to complete her Junior year.

Again, her boat is sound and afloat. Why is anyone going to get her? Shouldn't she set a jury rig and limp home? She loves the ocean, she wanted to test herself, ....well here is her test....and she is opting out at significant expense, danger, and inconvience to others. Any test you can opt out of is child's play.......which is exactly what this stunt is.

Respectfully, I couldn't disagree with you more. She wants help why do you have to chastize her for that?

Nobody has been dragged into it, the fishing vessel VOLUNTEERED to divert to her location as did the other vessels. The Airbus was PRIVATELY chartered.

Marshcappa, in the military, you're part of a team, and help is almost always minutes away. Not so in the case of what this girl and her parents exposed her to.

Furthermore, in my own experience, even in combat, we were able to control a lot of what took place, so that we could minimize the real danger. I'm not a sailor, but I'm guessing she is (or potentially is) exposed to a lot of things she casn't control.

Finally, even if you concede that being in the military is riskier than what this girl did (and I don't concede that), those risks are taken to ensure national security. This girl's motivation is irrefutably a lot more self-serving.

Likwid, you say the rescuers aren't "forced" to try to help her. True. Nor are rescuers forced to climb Mt McKinley to help folks who get stuck up there. But in my opinion, taking advantage of the bravery of those who work in rescue, in pursuit of a reckless, purely self-serving goal, is very selfish.

No one forced me to join the Marines. I felt that for a worthy mission, I'd take the risks. I would not have wanted to risk the lives of kids under my command, to save some teenager who went off half-cocked on some thrill ride.

Some people go to war, some people go to sea. Its as simple as that.

Btw, the Coast Guard will not render assistance unless its a life or death situation.

Agreed. But another simple concept is that parents are supposed to be wiser and more experienced than their teenage kids, and thus are in a better position to decide what's good for a kid and what's not. I'm sure you agree with that, we just disagree on the appropriateness of this particular adventure.

Thank God for the outcome...

Given the number of soldiers that have died the past few years in Iraq and Afghanistan, is it ignorant for parents to let their kids go into the military?

If the kid proved she could handle the boat then why would you deny her doing what she wanted?

And these stupid little things race across the Atlantic every year:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ing/open01.jpg

Bigger being safer is a myth.

Clueless. This saga has more in common with the "Balloon Boy" stunt than with a child deciding to serve his/her country. The country also recognizes that a 16 yo is not mature enough to make those sort of judgements.

Judgement, not boat handling, is what kids need to learn to survive. Tackling the S Indian Ocean alone in winter at age 16 is not good judgement. Gambling the life of your 16 yo to affirm your/their opinion that they are special isn't good judgement, either.

How'd a kid that age afford this boat anyways? Her parents buy it for her?

But a good rule of thumb when it comes to the ocean.

Seriously? I deny my kids something they want, all the time. I don't let my 10 year old eat candy bars for dinner, I don't let him choose not to do his homework. I don't let my teenager buy a convertible with her college savings. You see, there's a reason why kids need parents.

As to your other point, you speculated that if more soldiers die in combat than kids drown who sail solo, military life is more dangerous? You can't compare it that way, because I assume many more folks are in the military.

In other words, more people will get killed today driving cars than by playing russian roulette. Does that mean driving is more dangerous? No, it means that there are a lot of drivers, and not many kooks playing russian roulette. You need to look at percentages.

In any event, 16 year olds can't join the military, for good reason. Nor can 16 year-olds drive a car by themselves (here in CT) also for very good reason.

Its sad when its this easy to make blanket judgements on people without having met them.

I'm glad I never had anyone in my life like you telling me "you can't do that, thats too risky, thats too dangerous, you're not mature enough".

So how much time did you spend with Abby offshore in the Open 40 determining she's not capable of this then?

Exactly. In a written test of seamenship, maybe this kid scores better than, say, Dennis Connor (the only sailor I know). Does that mean she's better equipped to decide for herself to sail around the world, solo, than he is?

Nope. Maturity and wisdom are a function of age and experience.

I can easily see why this kid wanted to do it. I cannot comprehend any parent even considering agreeing to it. But as I said before, I see 12 year-olds shipped off to boarding schools, which I wouldn't do to my little guy, no matter how smart he was, even if you put a gun to my head.

Likwid...

"I'm glad I never had anyone in my life like you telling me "you can't do that, thats too risky,"

Did you have parents? Do you have kids (God I hope not)?

"So how much time did you spend with Abby offshore in the Open 40 determining she's not capable of this then?"

I spent exactly zero time with her. But I know that there's great reasons why 16 year-olds can't even drive a car in many states without adult supervision. I know that 16 year-olds aren't allowed to drink or even vote. Because they aren't developed enough, aren't mature enough, to make those kinds of decisions.

OK, so you're saying parents are never justified in saying "no" to teenagers because what they want is too risky...that's what you're seriously saying?

What color is the sky on the planet you live on? Here on Earth, where I live, parents are supposed to watch kids, especially teenagers, like a hawk. Teenagers have very little appreciation for long-term consequences.

According to your logic, the next time my 10 year-old asks if he can drive the car, I shuold just hand over the keys. And he can decide whether or not to wear his seat belt, things like that?

I was raised by an angry group of bowmen known as the bowmen's union. By the time I was 5 I was being chased by pro ho's. At 6 I scaled by hand my first 100+ foot rig in the middle of a gale to retrieve a halyard. By 12 they unveiled the ancient scripts from NYYC saying the one with the monkey feet would be the herald of the bowmen, which was me.

Ask Nebe, he'll vouch.

I was raised by extremely accomplished offshore sailors. My mother has more miles than most Navy folks will ever have.

They would certainly get in the way of fishin and sailin.

So tell me what voting, drinking, or driving a car has to do with sailing solo? Other than absolutely NOTHING.

I'm sure you're a great dad and your kids love you, but don't ever tell anyone else what they can or can't do or what their kids can or can't do. They just might do it anyhow and make you look bad.

Lets put this bluntly.
You have exactly zero knowledge of what it takes to sail offshore solo.
You have exactly zero knowledge of this kid's background.

You have no right to judge her or the parents.

likwid, have you raised any teenaged children?
Until you do, you know nothing.
This is not about offshore sailing. This is about parental judgement....something you have no direct experience with it appears.

Yes actually it is.
Since you have zero knowledge of it in GENERAL, never mind sailing an Open 40, you have no concept to decide whether a 16 year old could or couldn't do it.

And parent's judgement? Its their kid. Its their decision to say go or no go. Not yours. And none of your business.

Likwid...

"So tell me what voting, drinking, or driving a car has to do with sailing solo? Other than absolutely NOTHING."

Wrong. Those things (to do them safely and knowledgably) all require experience, maturity, wisdom, and the ability to understand the consequences of decisions.

"You have exactly zero knowledge of what it takes to sail offshore solo."

In terms of technical ability and seamenship, you are 100% correct in your assessment.

"You have exactly zero knowledge of this kid's background."

I assume (don't know for sure) she has spent an awful lot of time on the water. And I know for damn sure her parents are morons.

"You have no right to judge her or the parents"

Sorry, in your first post you called me "ignorant" and "stupid". So naturally I assumed that you were comfortable in judging others. I guessed I missed the announcement that you, and only you, were qualified to judge others.

Better go after basically every european family in the world who serves their kids wine at dinner!
Better go after countries with lower drinking ages too! Obviously they're all ignorant and their children are not 'mature' enough to do those things!

Ignorant was making blanket statements with zero knowledge of the boat, girl, or parents.

Ignorant is making blanket statements about what people can or can't do.

I see nobody has realized that she was being routed by professional weather routers. (Commanders, I'm sure NF is familiar with them. I personally hate them and think they're awful, but to each their own.) She was not making course decisions.

But I suppose you'd actually have to research and educate yourself on her attempt to know that.

Here's what you can't understand. If this kid had died, I would feel awful about that, and I'd feel angry at the waste. I've seen too many teenagers die for noble causes, to comprehend why parents would allow such risks for something as meaningless as 15 minutes of fame (and she had a blog and website, so don't tell me that's not what motivated her in some fashion, which, by the way, is understandable for a kid).

In some way, all of us, even you, have a vested interest in the safety and quality of life of future generations.

And don't give me that "who are you to judge" crap, that's the last-ditch effort of someone who would never admit that someone else might have a point.

People lose their lives doing all kinds of things, hell even crossing the street, nevermind sitting infront of the TV getting fat and never doing anything with their life and having their heart go on revolt.

You DON'T have a point because you cannot put yourself into her shoes or anyone elses. You live in a little world that things need to be "safe" and "secure" where things are served to you in appropriate portions and nothing bad ever happens.

Thats not living.

Likwid...

"Better go after basically every european family in the world who serves their kids wine at dinner!"

If they give the kids unsupervised access to the liquor cabinet, OK, I'll do that...

I stated previously that I've let my teenager drink wine a few times. I don't let her decide when she can drink, or how much she can drink, or whether or not she can drive after she drinks. I get to decide that. Adults and kids have different decision-making abilities, but not to you I guess.

Can you read likwid?

"People lose their lives doing all kinds of things, hell even crossing the street"

People have to cross the street. No one has to do something as dangerous as sailing solo around the world, much less a teenager. Your arguments just don't make sense.

"nevermind sitting infront of the TV getting fat and never doing anything with their life and having their heart go on revolt."

Oh, I see. So anyone who doesn't sail around the world solo at 16, is a sedentary couch potato with no reason to live.

I don't have to know her personally to care about her and wish her well. Nor do I have to know her personally to know when her parents are needlessly endangering her.

Do you lock your liquor cabinet in fear of your children?
If so, you did something wrong.

My last post on this thread...

"You live in a little world that things need to be "safe" and "secure" where things are served to you in appropriate portions and nothing bad ever happens. "

Let's see, I did 2 combat tours in Iraq with the USMC as the CO of a weapons company. I've been in for-real combat, and I lost 2 kids under my command. I bet I know ALMOST AS WELL AS YOU, that bad things do happen.

In fact, it's precisely because I know that bad things happen, that I see no reason to go begging for trouble. Children's lives are about the most precious thing I can imagine, I don't see the value in risking it for a bit of notoriety.

I also don't like it when someone insults me right off the bat, then has the hutzpah to tell me I have no right to judge others, just because you know you don't have the logical ability to defend your position.

Don't worry, I called my parents and let them know they should be in jail for child abuse due to letting me and my sister do alot of things that most people would consider "abusive and dumb". :rotf2:

Fishing Woods Hole when I was 15 in a RIB by myself after dark for one.

(Note: I did have a handheld vhf, knew how to use it, and how to call properly, unlike most d**kwagons on the water these days three times the age)

Sorry, I can't resist.

You criticize me for not knowing what it takes to sail across the world solo (and I admitted I had no such knowledge). And then you (the self-proclaimed maritime expert) compare THAT RISK to fishing in Woods Hole at night in a RIB? That's comparable to sailing around the southern tip of Africa in the winter? Really?