Zac Sunderland, sailing alone around the world at 17, fails to phone home but is OK

Imagine yourself as the mother of a 17-year-old who for the last eight months has been sailing alone around the world and facing all sorts of threats, including piracy and menacing seas.

You maintain your sanity only through your daily conversations via the satellite phone.

Zac Sunderland, a Thousand Oaks adventurer who left Marina del Rey at age 16 last June, has made it a point to phone his mother and/or father at a specified time each day, to help ease their minds.

Zac did not call the other day,  nor did he arrive at St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic, on schedule.

This caused Marianne Sunderland to post this message Wednesday on her son's blog:

"There is a saying that says something like, 'No news is good news.' That is definitely not the case when you haven't heard from your son who was due in port hours ago but hasn't arrived. I normally would wait to post until he arrived, but just so you don't think that we have forgotten about you all -- here we are.

"We are not really worried about Zac because we know he is in calm seas and not yet that late. Yet, our ears are hyper-vigilant to the possible sound of the phone ringing and email is being checked more than regularly in the hopes of hearing that our boy is safe in port."

Marianne shared the good news Friday morning: Her son had arrived at St. Helena Yacht Club. He had not been able to get a phone signal and was late because of frustratingly light winds.

The mother is clearly relieved. In fact, she probably will collapse with relief when her son arrives back in Marina del Rey in a few months, completing his odyssey.

--Pete Thomas

Photo: Zac Sunderland

Comments

[Westside Steve]

GO ZAC GO!
This kid has a lot of guts, living an adventure few of us even dream of.
Best wishes and a safe passage back to MdR.
The people who make comments like, "...what were the parents thinking.." have obviously never tried to get a determined teenager to pay attention. I've heard these comments around the marina and consider them lower than bilge.
Angelenos: In the recent nonstop parade of depressing news, that odd little feeling you got when you read this story is called pride. Enjoy it and wish the Sunderlands all the best.

[toby]

His parents should be thrown in jail or at the VERY least, Social Services should be investigating them.

I mean seriously, how are they NOT investigating them?

[Gtn]

This kid is amazing, I remember when he left...he really is living the dream. I find the idea of sailing to Catalina as being a big adventure, his experience is overwhelmingly respectable.

[Bill Franklin]

I do not think of him every day, but he is there in the back of my mind and like all of us, am pulling for him.

Pete Thomas, how about regular irregular posts on his progress?

Possible?

Thanks.

[Pam]

His parents should be thrown in jail? Are you crazy...maybe you should be in a mental institution for the boringly, non-adventurous insane! Good for this kid and for his family. There used to be a day in America where such adventurism was applauded, where it was looked at as fulfilling a dream. I hope toby does not have any children cause I bet they will have really boring and repressed lives!

[torrisi]

this kid rocks! but i'm sure when he gets back, however, he'll be a man in many ways

[Crash Burn]

I don't want to say anything too judgmental, but I really don't like what's going on here. These two are at kids are at an age too young to really appreciate the danger and finality of what they are risking. Obviously there are a lot worse examples of parental neglect/ bad upbringing (e.g. kids joining gangs, etc.), but it looks like parents are just going to keep on pushing and pushing the youngest age record.

These kids obviously have not secured his own financing and is being supported/pushed by parental figures. I think I would be less judgmental if these kids had pushed for this themselves and found a way to finance their journey themselves to show that it was their impetus and commitment. As a parent I can't help but feel that these parent's vanity has outweighed good parenting. If these kids go on this journey, it should only be despite what their parents have said and not because of it.

[Crash Burn]

I think calling it amazing or admirable is a bit much. Sailing around the world does not compare with giving up a football career and joining the army or charging into a burning building. This kid certainly does have a propensity to go on an adventure, and a confidence in his abilities beyond his years, but he really don't have an understanding of the risk. The recklessness of approaching a journey which they lack the requisite life experience is not something to be admired but folly to learned from, which is a natural point of growing up (doing stupid things). A nine in ten chance of making it back alive might be good odds, but in retrospect, I'm sure few would choose to undertake such a journey for such little reason. I write this because I think the tone of this coverage needs to be a bit more critical and less referent.

[Vince Thompson]

In connection with your Zac Sunderland item on http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/03/there-is-a-sayi.html we can email you our recent news item. Zac arrived here yesterday afternoon.

All we need is an email address at Los Angeles Times.

Vince Thompson
St Helena Independent

[Westside Steve]

Crash Burn, I see where you are coming from with your opinion, but its coming from the dark side of adventure. Firemen and Soldiers, most of whom are great people, aren't setting any records. And one could make the argument that Pat Tilghman, killed by US munitions, his sacrifice cheated by lying brass, could have better served the country staying in the NFL: a great american organization. Fate is often unfair and results matter.

Also keep in mind that any 17 yo can be deployed overseas and put in much greater harm than by setting a world record. Would you call those parents irresponsible? Overly coddled kids often make for frightened, uninspired adults living sad lives. I doubt this young person (Zac) will become like that.

[Mike Kingdom-Hockings]

Amazing how everyone thinks their own experiences and attitudes define 'normal'. But what worries me most is the belief that all children develop at the same rate - and the suggestion that 'life experience' (i.e. 'No. You're too young. Wait until you grow up.') makes anyone better equipped for sailing around the world singlehanded. The characteristics and skills required are:

- ability to manage erratic sleep cycles and sleep deprivation
- ability to cope with any situation calmly without panicking
- ability to sail a boat
- ability to navigate

Plenty of kids in their mid-teens can sail and navigate very well indeed. No amount of 'life experience' will fix the first two items.

Note that Frenchman Alain Gautier was given special dispensation to race in the Solitaire du Figaro (a singlehanded multistage ocean race) in 1980 because he was only 17. French sailing is tightly regulated, but the governing body judged him on his proven skills, not on his age...

I understand the concern that seeking records for youngest participant in extreme sports (we're seeing it in mountaineering, too) can result in parental pressure, but pretending to be enthusiastic about something when you're not isn't something I associate with teenagers.

[Parent of Teen]

I praise the Sunderland family who are unselfish and are able to have their son experience the world is such a fine way. He has a gift and passion of sailing why set limits on life with responsible, trustworthy people. People need to experience life outside of their bubble. I am proud of Zac's adventure, hard work and desire to discover. he seems very mature and more responsible than many adults.

And to Zac's family and friends who experience that unconditional love and who stand behind Zac's dream and adventure! More families should learn and encourage passion, adventure, hardwork and determination. We would be a much better place! Go Zac

[Robert Dingas]

Dear Zac,

I once built a 24 ton two masted catch. What you did was awfully commendable.

R. Dingas

[Mark]

Way to go Zac! I joined the Navy when I was only 17 and sailed the seas for 6 months back in 1983, loved every bit of it!