Abby Sunderland returns home to Thousand Oaks

Teen sailor Abby Sunderland, who was rescued when her 40-foot sailboat was stranded amid high seas while attempting a solo around-the-world voyage, returned Monday night to her Thousand Oaks home.

KTLA news cameras captured footage of the 16-year-old returning to her home.

Sunderland’s 40-foot vessel Wild Eyes was battered by high seas and heavy winds in the Indian Ocean on June 10. She triggered several emergency beacons and drifted for two days before being rescued by the French fishing vessel Ile de la Reunion.

She was later transferred to the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris, headed for Reunion Island, said Stacey Kinnane, a search-and-rescue officer at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which coordinated the rescue.

Sunderland is scheduled to speak to the media Tuesday, according to her blog.

--Robert J. Lopez

Photo: Abby Sunderland. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[yxk0012]

Welcome home, Abby! Hope you don't give up. And don't pay attention to all these armchair explorers and "step-out-of-line-and-we'll-shoot" types. The country needs people like you more than it needs them.

[glove]

greedy fame seekers waste much resources that's much needed elsewhere - any book, move, tv...money they make out of it should go pay for their rescue cost

[Brandy]

Glad she is home safe. Our office was praying for her safe return and followed the story from the beginning.

[Jim8]

Welcome home, Abby!

Now it's time to get a job, and save enough money to try it again. You will have more success with the lessons you have learned.

[Herbie]

Why do parents feel the need to risk the life of children who have the potential for so much more? At 16 a child hasn't lived long enough to experience many things and decide what they are truly passionate about. Don't forget that at this age is easy to fall in love with one thing and believe that there's nothing better out there. Thankfully she made it home ok, but there are others who have not. I hope that she goes on to truly make a significant contribution to the world.

[chris eann]

Welcome home Columbia. Your voyage moves us west even more so.
Keep the spirit alive and write the book.

The Admiral

[Hammy]

The same girl who has a web site "hawking" shoes and items with her name stamped on them. How odd her trip was not completed, yet her web site for items for sale was posted even before she was discovered missing. Another media hype to promote a "supposedly" tragic event.

Time to smell the coffee and wake up people. The balloon boy hoax, a supposed teen ocean peril. Akin to another "Timmy" trapped in the well or the boy who cried wolf.

[david n]

Welcome home Abby.
Now it's time to put on a dress and go get laid for christs sake

[kgoddess]

Yawn.

[steve]

The girl can't legally drink, vote, fly an airplane solo, join the military, but she can sail across the world in a small vessel? what's wrong with this picture. i believe it's called "child endangerment".

[t. perez]

glad she is back home. however, any monies she makes off of her story should go to pay for her rescue.