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

[Jordan]

Steve Lopez,
You have no business to talk so negative on Abby and her family. She is trying to do something different and somethings she enjoys. Calling her parents irresponsible sickens me. Just because she is doing something out of the norm doesn't mean you should criticize it. You are the typical person that is keeping the next generation of youth from venturing out and doing what they want to do. Her parents are encouraging her to sail around the world because it is what she loves to do. Yourself and other people that are strongly against this brave girl and her parents are ridiculous and being extremely selfish on your voiced opinions.

[Ann]

Oh get over it.

Henry II - before he became Henry II - gathered an army of over 6000 men and invaded England to contest the throne. His mother Matilda had been the designated heir but the throne had been seized by her cousin Stephen.

So when Henry reached a certain age, he raised an army and landed in England having left from Anjou (northern France) and set off to fight a war.

He was 16 (SIXTEEN) years old. And it was done with the approval of his elders including his great-uncle, the King of Scotland, who knighted him when he landed in England.

Fighting a waar with broadswords, daggers and other weapons is a LOT more dangerous.

ANd then there is more recent history. Up until the FLSA in the mid-19e0s, ages 12, 13, 14 etc were considered old enough to go into the workforce and support themselves. They dug coal and tin. They worked on ships - even as young as 9 or 10. They did all kinds of dangerous jobs.

Quit babying the brats. What is next? Childhood until age 39?

[Reluctant New Yorker]

If Mr. Lopez would not allow his son or daughter at age 16 to do this then maybe that is because his child is not ready for such a challenge. That does not mean that other teenagers are not. Jessica Watson did this at age 16, and several other 17 year old kids have too.

The timing of Miss Sunderland's voyage is questionable as they could have avoided typically bad weather in the Indian Ocean this time of year. However, Miss Sunderland has demonstrated remarkable poise and judgment during her trip, and she is handling her current situation exactly as she should. Her age is irrelevant.

Would I let one of my children do this when they are teenagers? It would depend on the kid. If they are mature and have demonstrated skill and judgment I would support them.

Numerous teenagers are injured and killed doing stupid things behind their parents' backs within miles of their home. That is foolhardy behavior. In my opinion Abby and her brother set a good example for other teenagers. They are taking risk, but they planned and prepared. That is not foolhardy. It is taking on a challenge.

Perhaps Mr. Lopez is just not a risk-taker himself, and he expects everyone else to be like him?

[Cleo Watts]

Lopez has the typical liberal mindset. Interfere with people's dreams to do something and pass nanny laws to protect us from ourselves. This country was founded by people who dared to dream and take on what others thought foolish or dangerous.

[MikeS]

"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."

Frank, your logic isn't questionable, it's non-existent, right up there with the moron that said this is no more dangerous than driving. When a car breaks down, help is minutes away, not two days. Further, she is apparently in the vicinity of Africa for part of this jaunt. Africa, that's where those pirates that keep seizing ships hang out, right? Hmmm, what would they do with a 16 year old girl?

What your moronic comment above fails to distinguish, is that just because a person CAN do something, doesn't mean they SHOULD. You feel she SHOULD be allowed to sail around the world, and unfortunately her parents agreed with you. It is a parent's job to make these decisions until the child reaches adulthood. Or perhaps, by your logic, since a 16 year old can drive a car, they should be able to...smoke? Drink? Own a gun?

Mr. Lopez feels her parents did not rein her in, for her own good, as they should have. As a parent, I have to agree. I hope you're not a parent yourself. Not only for your kids' sake, but the collective gene pool.

[rick]

Hey Steve, shouldn't you have written this column way back in January when she set sail? Now that she ran into trouble, it's great fodder for you pundits to do your Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

Yes, I agree with you. I would have chained her to the bedpost if she were my daughter. They should not have let her brother Zak take his round the world sail either. He was only 17.

The bottom line is that Abby is safe...God forbid anything has happened to her since being spotted.

[spatter]

I gotta agree. If she had waited until she was 18, the ocean would probably have still been there...

[Gene Venable]

And why didn't you say one word about the brother being allowed to do the same? Because of the one-year age difference? Give me a break. People have the right to take risks. "Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger," as Nietzsche said. This is going to be one tough chick. Or a deat one. Her choice.

[Angry from Richmond Vic]

Some twit called Jessica Watson sails around the world at age 16 and arrives home to whistles and cheers from a pathetic Australian public. Headlines of sponsorship deals, dollars rolling in, etc. only serve to encourage this nonsense.

5 minutes later another 16 yo called Abby Sunderland chases her dreams, perhaps encouraged by similar pursuits fame, $, etc.

When will parents say, 'No. I must crush your dream because it would be irresponsible not to do so'? Obviously never; perhaps this is why tennis authorities introduced a minimum age for kids to compete on the ATP tour.

Good blog, Steve.

[Rick]

As a responsible parent, I can't imagine sending one of my children on such a hazarous expodition, only for a bit of fame. What foolish parents they most certainly are. Shame on them!

[Will B.]

I totally agree . . . . and I think T.J. Simers does too.

[Adams Wofford]

These parents were seriously neglectful. It is lucky that their daughter is still alive. Adams Wofford

[Megan]

Steve, did you know that Abby's parents are pregnant with another child due soon? And did you know they were quoted today by reporters saying that if this yet-unborn baby wants to sail similarly in the future, they would let him/her?

[Trooper]

That what is wrong with you Americans, er, Westerners. Why is it that no young Singaporeans, Chinese, Japs, attempt these silly and dangerous "world records?" Because you spoil your kids too much, let them get away with irresponsible behavior. Your kids should be competing for the brightest or smartest world records. Soon, you will allow a six-year old attempts to cross the Antarctic? How about "youngest" to strap himself to a rocket and fly to the moon?

Pray, who is going to pay for the cost of chartering the Qantas jumbo jet? Or the extra oil to divert the dozens of ships racing to rescue this foolish girl?

I admire the Dutch government who went to court to prevent a 13-yr old girl from going into a similar "youngest" misadventure.

This girl should be spanked hard when she gets home.

[Kathleen Fairweather]

" Laurence Sunderland, who is a shopwright, said in the weeks before her departure: "I've told Abigail, 'You will see 60 knots of wind down there, probably on more than one occasion.' "

Laurence added: "I have no doubt in my mind that this boat is going to get totally knocked around down there."

No doubt??? Why didn't he just put her in a boxing ring..With Mike Tyson?

Cheaper, closer to home and just as crazy.

[Gayle]

Steve, you should go after those who are bad parenting examples like Sarah Palin, who let her child have a baby out of wedlock. Or those parents who gang bang. Or those parents who let their children do drugs. Abby Sutherland did not do those things and it is unfair that you criticize her and her parents. Her parents have faith and trust in her, and she knew what she was doing. Abby Sutherland should be congratulated and commended for the courage she had accomplishing this.

[Roberto]

Jessica Watson from Australia just completed her circumnavigtion around the world at the age of sixteen. She was well prepared, better financed and with a much more suitable sailboat for the journey. Also, she planned her trip to coincide with the southern hemisphere summer and had fantastic navigators routing her out and away from trouble as best as possible and of course she had good luck as well. I have been sailing my entire life off the west coast of California and I have a very healthy respect for the ocean as well as the treacherous winds we have from both the north west and the east (santa ana's).. My biggest question to the navigators of Abby's journey is: "Why in the world was she put in the Southern Indian Ocean two weeks from the beginning of Winter sailing at or below the 40th parallel"? If she had been sailing between the 25th & 30th parallel I highly doubt she would have been subjected to 40 to 60 knot winds and wicked 20 to 30 foot seas. I don't care if you are an experienced Frenchman in a Volvo round the world race boat, conditions like that will pummel the best of them.... To end..... I am very pleased and thank God that Abby is alive and whatever she did during the knockdowns and wipeouts she did well because she stayed with her boat and she survived!!! I don't blame her or her parents, but the campaign was flawed from the beginning and someone definetly was remiss to send her (or anybody) so deep into the Southern Ocean.

[A. Greenberg]

Maybe I missed it but why wasn't this child in school????

[scout]

Let's hope tax dollars are not being spent to rescue this brave young women in peril.

With bigger sea issues at hand: i.e. the BP gulf oil gusher---let's focus attention on the mammoth problem to solve and not just one soul setting out to break a record. Bravo to her bravery and her parent's support, however, let's look towards issues that need out help now. How do we stop the dependance on oil and develop alternative energy sources while reducing our consumption of same. While this is not sexy and requires all of us to make compromises, for goodness sake, we've had a wake-up call. Let's all do our part to make personal changes and call for radical reform in the petroleum drilling in the sea and land.

[Ellen Zunino]

The Sunderland kids and that 13 year old Everest-climbing boy prove only what can be done when mom and dad have lots of money and the parental protective instincts of frogs. They're the balloon-boy with pre-launch publicity. While millions of American kids have learned to do without because of their families' financial difficulties, the spawn of the big-bucks crowd engage in high-end, high-publicity play, confidently assuming that the world will spare no expense to pull their butts out of the fire when things go wrong. There's just nothing about wealth-inspired self-absorption and self-promotion that I find praiseworthy.

[Brad]

Was Abby a competent decision maker?

Derrick Fries, the world renowned sailor, said it best "There is no way I'd even consider sending my 16 year old solo around the world. There is no way that they have accumulated the amount of experience necessary to handle all the problems and scenarios which could arise. To sail the southern ocean at this time of year is the equivalent of a DEATH SENTENCE."

The decision to carry on from Cape Town across the Southern Ocean was reckless, irresponsible and and an unfair burden on the rescue services. The rescue services were designed to help folks who are out there as a result of an accident , or to help people who are out there as a result of sound decision making, not as a safety valve for reckless publicity stunts.

The decision to venture out into the perfect storm was a very me first, selfish decision, made by a SoCal teenager; which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with the breed.

[Dean Masters]

In regard to "What's with Qantas" the airline has a contract with the Australian Government to perform long range oceanic search missions. The cost of yesterdays flight was $200k.

[Mike]

Look, it was the Sunderland family's decision to let Abby go ahead with this risky attempt. Abby was 16. Have you ever tried to make a 16-year-old do anything? Instead, everyone involved in the search and rescue should bill the Sunderlands for the full cost of their efforts. There's no reason for the public or any private company to assume the cost of rescuing someone who voluntarily and against advice proceeded with their foolhardy plan.

[Daniel H.]

She says in that video story that the boat costs $90,000. Dollars. !! ?? !!

[Andrew Beets]

I have been ocean ssiling for more than thirty years. There is no way I would ever attempt a stunt like a non-stop solo around the world voyage unless I decided that was the way I wanted to exit this world in my old age. Not a bad way to go by the way - but as far as I am concerned, Abby's parents should be charged with reckless child endangerment.
Her dad has been quoted as "it's been her dream since she was thirteen". Wow - three whole years from dream to setting sail at 16! Idiots!!!! They don't deserve to have her back if she does make it(and that is not yet a given). She should be placed in the care of others. Jail for them.