Abby Sunderland: Brave girl, questionable choice

If, at the age of 16, my daughter wanted to sail around the world by herself despite warnings from sailing experts that she’d be crossing the Indian Ocean during the most dangerous weather conditions of the year, I would tell her, order her and, if necessary, beg her to wait a couple of years.

If she insisted on doing it anyway, I’d compliment her bravery and then lock her in her room, chain her to a tree or slip sleeping pills into her oatmeal.

Abby Sunderland of Thousand Oaks said before leaving Marina del Rey in January that her parents were “trying to scare me out of” taking the trip, but her mom and dad, Marianne and Laurence, apparently gave in. Oh, darn, honey. Sure thing, if it’s what you really want to do.

Maybe the parents of seven couldn’t figure out how to say no to their daughter after allowing their son to do the same thing when he was 17, and it makes you long for the days of truancy officers. So what happened?

Abby ran into a storm between Australia and South Africa, with 25-foot waves and 70-mph gales, and her boat's mast apparently snapped like a twig. The good news is she survived, which we know because she was spotted from the air.

Qantas Airways sent a jetliner to look for her along with dozens of harbor patrol spotters, and fishing vessels were changing direction to rush to her aide. To echo the sentiment of some readers who’ve been weighing in at latimes.com, and wondering how this doesn’t come under the category of “reckless endangerment” by the parents, I hope Qantas and anyone else involved in the search sends the bills to mom and dad in Thousand Oaks.

And what’s with Qantas?

I often can’t get an airline to give me a seat assignment six months out from a flight, and these guys drop everything and send up a posse to look for a kid with irresponsible parents?

Look, I’m all for letting kids take smart risks, but this was a stupid one.

I’m no expert, but I’ve done enough sailing to know that when you’re on the water, six dozen things you’ve never even thought of can go wrong at any time.

Just a couple weeks ago, the body of an experienced, 57-year-old sailor washed up in Long Beach after he tried to sail alone from Santa Catalina Island to Marina del Rey in a storm.

She’s a brave kid, this Abby Sunderland.

As for the parents, I don’t know how old the rest of their kids are, but where will mom and dad draw the line on around-the-world trips? Let’s hope they don’t have a 10-year-old who gets the bug next.

-- Steve Lopez

Tell Steve what you think about this issue by commenting below.

Photo: Abby Sunderland

Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Kathy]

Well said, who funds this? Parents would do anything for publicity and money...Yes parents should pay for recue costs for this
"reckless child endangerment”

[JK]

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that her parents should not have allowed this.

[Canyac Canhar]

Is she really the youngest, or just the first female to sail solo around the world? I have a National Geographic magazine, dtd October 1968, that has an article of a 16 y/o from (of all places) Los Angeles who sailed completely around the world - solo, and ran into rough seas in exactly the same spot as Abby Sunderland. So who was first? The youngest? Or is this just a stunt to gain publicity for herself?

[Frank Glazewski]

Steve, what does Abby's age have to do with her mast snapping off in the middle of a storm? Abby is clearly a competent and confident individual, and was most certainly qualified for her undertaking.

The fact that Quantas chose to put an aircraft in the area to look for her is their business. They don't have to ask your permission.

If a 16 year old is allowed to get behind the wheel of an automobile, then a qualified 16 year old should be allowed to sail around the world.

And duh, a 10 year old would be too young to undertake this type of voyage. Besides, most 10 year olds are more interested in their video games than real life.

Maybe you're just jealous that you never tried anything this daring.

Give Abby the credit she deserves.

[Richard P]

I agree with SL's take on the parents. But, teenagers can be crazy, and many do much worse close to home, behind the wheel of a car. As for Quantas, this is advertising. Call it a stunt if you wish, but the solo voyage was too, but at least the Quantas stunt has a worthwhile purpose.

The real shame is that the resources allocated to search and rescue could have been more wisely spent to save far more lives, and in this case it was a foolish and selfish decision that caused the problem in the first place. Did the family post an insurance bond to cover SAR costs?

[simon G.]

Who is Steve Lopez?
I am glad to not be your daughter. That is her dream and she will do it again. Those sea woolf can not be stopped, they like waht they do and if they die doing it, it was worth it for them.
Keep your kids locked up if you want, they will be spineless humans.
Let her ride baby!

[DIANA]

This family wants their 15 minutes of fame and their children are providing that for them; though now with notoriety. The sponsors for these endeavors by the Sunderland children are also irresponsible as well as suspect in their motives.

[Gordon]

It's not that the person is 16 years old that is worrying. What is genuinely concerning is that the whole family knows how to sail boats, and the girl is out in the Southern Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere winter.

[sitdownandbequiet]

Sometimes a parent has to be a parent and just say no.

[mike jackson]

I think the parent should be thrown in Jail. If you spank you child, it can be looked at as child endangerment these days, but yet its ok to send a 16 year old girl to travel around the world on a boat alone. Since the parents have 7 kids maybe they think they can sacrifice one to the sea. Makes me kind of sick, they can get away with it, and everyone is glorifying it. Next we are going to have some parents send their 15 year old on the same trip to get the glory. I just wonder how young the kid will be to hold the record before someone dies.

[Jim]

Right on

[Brian]

There is not some magnanimous gesture by Qantas, the aircraft was chartered by Australian Maritime Rescue Authority, so the cost is being borne by the Australian taxpayers.
A boat or boats have set out from La Reunion to pick up Abby so presumably the French taxpayers are also contributing.

[Lou Alkana]

You're exactly right, Steve. But 'bravery' isn't the correct word. It's "Ignorance." As when you are incognizant of consequences to yourself or others who may be effected by your actions. But then, that defines adolescence, doesn't it? Her folks ought to bear the full financial brunt of their dependent daughter's actions, as they are the so-called "responsible" parties. They're lucky they aren't having to endure a lifetime of guilt as well.

[Skipper Jeff]

Although single handed sailing is dangerous and rescues are expensive. I am so disappointed to hear people criticizing Abby and her Family for embarking on her dream and challenge. Parents and teens make the decision all the time to go on to football fields with the possibilities of injury or worse. Let alone driving at age 16. It's a lot safer at sea than on the freeways.

[Ben]

Mr. Lopez;
SO it's not OK to let Abby make the trip @ 16, but perfectly fine to make the trip @ 18, is that your belief? Just what do you expect her to learn in the next 2 years that would better equip her for this trip? Keep in mind, by all accounts, she did nothing wrong and made no mistakes. Furthermore, sailing around the world, while perhaps more risky than you are comfortable with, is not illegal and puts noone but Abby at risk. The LA Times is well known for coming to the defense of gang members and illegal aliens, both of whom are taking on far greater risk both to themselves and those around them (including unborn children). unlike Abby, they are most definitely breaking the law.

Lay off the parents. The boat broke, it's as simple as that. It could have happened to anyone at any time during the year. The parents did a great job preparing her for the trip. It's laughable that you would even suggest that your sailing "experience" is anywhere near hers.

[Erwin]

I wonder if parental responsibility would have been questioned had she finished her trip?

If she'd waited a few years her chance of being the youngest to sail alone around the world would have disappeared.

And if she'd been my daughter I would have chained her to a tree, etc., until she was older, but I would have encouraged her to plan and then go for it. She could still have set some kind of record.

[Dylan Porter]

What if your father at age 65 wanted to sail around the world? Couldn't really tell him no, could you?

We are a species that loves to explore. If we weren't we'd all still be living where we evolved in Africa. No one is forcing you to do it but when I hear armchair complainers say things like this I wonder if you've ever been east of San Bernardino or waded into the surf past your ankles.

A Sailing Reader

[Wesley Baxter]

Yeah, sure. And because they might get in a car crash we should keep them off the road too, right? Her parents judged her capable of facing the risks, and let her live her life. Life is risks, she's out there living. Your kids wouldn't be.

[JM]

Yea, her parents need to pay the bill for her rescue which I imagine is running into the many thousands of dollars by now.

[Robert]

Abby is a brave young woman. I believe that she knew exactly what she was getting into. I also think that timing of the trip could have been better, sailing the southern ocean during the summer months. Could it have been pressure from the media that prompted the late departure? I have been around a lot of kids from sailing families and they tend to be more mature and worldly than your average kid.
A dismasting such as happened here is something you plan for before crossing a ocean. You hope it never happens but never less you prepare for it. So far it looks like she is doing as well as any other sailor would do in this situation.
I wish my parents were like hers. I also wished to sail at an early age but my parents would not here of it. So I had to wait till I was 18, Get a job and save some money to buy a boat. At age 26 I finally had a boat, learned to sail her and took off around the world.

[Timothy]

16 was, until recently, well past the age of majority. Many of history's greatest figures got their start in their early teens, such as US Adm. David Farragut, whose naval career began at age 10, and who skippered a captured British whaling ship at age 12.

Abby's thirst for responsibility should be the norm, not the exception, and we'd all do a lot better to recognize our teens as the adults they are -- rather than drugging their oatmeal in a bid to prolong childhood.

[Fred]

how about this - just dont FUND it.
Too much money, too little sense

[Walter]

Steve people like you are responsible for the nanny state that has developed in this country. Kids that age used to and still do fight wars, get married, and have kids. While these are bad decisions for a 16 year old to make and we have rightfully stopped them here, there is no problem whatsoever with a 16 year old sailing around the world if they are experience enough for the task. People like you need to get your heads out and stop living such sheltered lives.

[andrew]

Great article, I couldn't agree more. Honestly this girl has one hell of a heart. I have trouble being in a canoe alone, let alone the middle of the Indian Ocean. But, as you say, there is a little foolishness and to some degree selfish disregard allowing their daughter to make such a risky trip.

And really, why the chase for a world record? What benefit does this have for the world that would make all of these businesses lose thousands of dollars making up for the parent's mistake.

[Bob]

Compared to these whack jobs, the Octomom looks like Mother Teresa.