Rescue effort underway for teenage sailor Abby Sunderland

My former colleague Pete Thomas is among the first to report on his blog that a rescue effort has been launched in hope of finding teenage sailor Abby Sunderland, who set off her emergency beacon locating devices from the southern Indian Ocean early Thursday morning.

Sunderland, 16, who has been attempting to sail around the world alone, endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds before conditions briefly abated.

However, her parents lost satellite phone contact with her early Thursday morning and an hour later were notified by the coast guard at French-controlled Reunion Islands that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices on board her vessel Wild Eyes had been activated.

One of the devices is apparently attached to a survival suit and is meant to be used when a person is in the water or a life raft.

Abby's father said he didn't know if his daughter was in a life raft or aboard the boat, or whether the boat was upside down.

"Everything seemed to be under control," Laurence Sunderland, struggling with his emotions, told Thomas. "But then our call dropped and a hour later the coast guard called."

The Sunderlands are asking people to pray for their daughter, a high school junior from Thousand Oaks.

Outposts has been following Sunderland's journey, and will keep readers updated as more information is available.

-- Kelly Burgess

Follow Outposts on Twitter: twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Comments

[Sy Bero]

Leaving the EPIRBs and PLBs at home would have shown a greater sense of commitment.

[ty]

I think some (or most) of the people following this story are pissed off due to the costs incurred by the search and rescue and are directing it towards the parents.

My one personal opinion is that I don't have a problem with the actual act or parenting (as it is none of my business anyhow) but do have a problem with anyone relying on the coast guard and taking them (or other rescue services) for granted to get their ass out of a bind if things go south as they did in this case.

Someone needs to be held accountable for the financial aspect of this failed risk...and since she is underage, the parents should very much get the bill in the mail. Can't freeload in today's world.

[boomer]

She is too young regardless of how much sailing experience she has or how "mature" she is. Parents need to get a bill for the search & rescue operation along with a certificate of stupidity.

[Jason Jones]

"The Sunderlands are asking people to pray for their daughter, a high school junior from Thousand Oaks." It would be nice if they took some responsibility of their own for keeping their daughter safe from tremendous risks like this instead of just leaving it all up to God.

[wilson]

you nay sayers are all birds of a feather, you have never nor will you ever acheive greatness. People like this kid are movers and shakers and her parents know it. You people need to back off, sit down and hide in your safe little world

[JJ]

WELL I BEEN READING SOME OF WHAT THE PEOPLE WAS SAYING ,WHAT I GOT TO SAY FOR SOME OF U WITH THE BLAME THE MOM AND DAD WELL U ALL WRONG .ABBY WANT TO SAIL THAT WAS HER DREAM .AND HER MOM AND DAD BACK HER UP .AND IF ANY OF U ARE PARENTS I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD BACK YOUR KID UP .SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO ABBY AND HER PARENTS,

[cassandra]

It doesn't matter if she is wiser then a normal 16 year old. Or if her parents "thought" she was skilled enough to attempt sailing around the world. Like Wldhair said, some people who have vast amounts of experience, 20 years, have died while out at sea. It might have been her idea, but she is not 18, she doesn't live on her own, and I'm 100% sure she didn't pay for all the equipment and boat that she is using for this adventure. So if her parents actually didn't want her to go, it would've been easy to say no. My mom used to tell me all the time NO and that was just to go to the movies on a weeknight! They obviously were not in their right mind when making this decsion, OR their previous decision to let their son when he was 17 to sail around the world alone. Agreed something could happen to you when you're driving home or something, but the risks are much higher when you are in surrounded by something that we do no inhabit. We do not have gills, we can't breath under water. If you get knocked out on your way home, you can still breath, if you get knocked out off the boat with no one to save you, you die! The fact that her mother even made the statement that, "Well an accident can happen driving home" shows that she still STANDS BY her decision on letting this young girl go out into a vas ocean where anything can go wrong, and where know one familiar is around to save her. Their parents wanted the esteem, and im not saying they dont love her, but they obviously loved the fame more, then to fully comprehend the danger they put both their children true. And they better hope someone is watching over them, and i hope they arent as stupid to make a decsion like this again. (even thou they have already)

PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS BEFORE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY CAN'T DO OR IN THIS CASE LET THEIR CHILDREN DO SUCH RADICAL THINGS.

lets hope it isnt too late.

[Douglas Gray]

She is too far south for safe sailing at this time of year. 60 ft. waves and 60 knot winds? She should be further north in a safer zone. Unsafe, inexperienced sailor sounds like to me. I pray for her safe return, but to go all alone into an area where 60 ft. waves are likely, is irresponsible.

[cassie W]

Reimburse? are you kidding me? what about all the illegals using our health system and food stamps? yet you want a legit rescue operation to be reimbursed? you people hating on the Sunderlands are such imbeciles, go lock your overweight children in their rooms with their x-box and cell phones and computers and know that they are "safe".... I congratulate Abby on her bravery and will to go out there and live, she obviously was raised with passion and drive unlike the oxygen draining leeches you haters spawned.

[Susan Skooly]

I hope Abby and her family intend to reimburse the government for her rescue. Why is the public supposed to bail out risk-taking publicity seekers when their stunts go awry? If she wants the glory, she also has to be prepared to cover the cost of the risk.

Yea, I know she is only 16. We all learn financial lessons at some point in life. She put herself in this position to learn this lesson at 16 years old. Put her on a payment plan to pay monthly.

[Larry]

Yes I will pray for her sake, not your's Thomas. You foolish foolish man. There is no way the Lord would sign off on this for your fame and glory.

Where is your arrogant tone now?

[j funk]

Hey now, What ever happen to challange, personal commitment and the such. I find it difficult with people talking her family down for letting her do this it was her choice and to put that kind of blame is utterly disgusting. I think this is a whole hartedly brave thing to do it sounds like she has more sailing skilles and personal courage than most people ever will have. I pray to god she pulls through just to faze you nimwits!! america is prayin for you girl!!

[Joe from kellyville syd\australia]

We had a young 16 yr old gitl by name of Jessica Watson who just came back from a solo trip around the world, many tjhought she would not make it, it was follhardy, stupid parents etc, but everone changed their minds when she sailed into sydney and it was shown live on australian tv. she was a mature girl for her age, unfortunately they would not give her the record as the youngest solo sailer as she did not travel far enough into the northern hemisphere.

[Mike]

ABBY DIES....As soon as that headline flashes, someone needs to arrest these irresponsible parents. What fantasy land are they living in with their kids?

[Dee]

Why would any parent send their minor child off to sea solo?
What happened to RESPONSIBLE PARENTING?
I am the parent, you are the child, and I am RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU! Yes, this is very sad, but this is poor parenting and I hold them responsible.

[DarkHuntress]

"pursue her dreams"...? The girl is 16 years old! She has plenty of time to 'pursue her dreams'. She should be thinking about graduation and college, not risking her life on the ocean!

No, this one falls on the parents shoulders. They needed to stop this before it got started or were they too busy being "friends".

[Robert]

Jason has it right. Abby is a very brave young woman living her dream. Even without knowing her I know that she knew exactly what the risk are. So people back off on the negative comments on whom to blame. In a world of virtual this and virtual that we need more brave young people living real adventure. I speak from experience having sailed around the world solo myself.

[Troy Jensen]

I love the cowards and haters, those who have never reached for their dreams, hating on the parents and Abby. Useless people, taking up oxygen unnecessarily. By far and away, the biggest tragedy in life is not pursuing your dreams...kudos to her parents for understanding that, and letting her go for it. I would by far rather perish reaching for my dreams, than live 200 years never knowing what that felt like (as the majority of people do...watching it all go by, throwing out daggers because they don't have the spine to go make their own dreams come true). Anyone who disagrees obviously never reached for their own stars...or is infected with that seemingly all too common personality disorder I have laughed off my whole life....HATER syndrome. Don't usually get riled up over anything enough to take the time to post a strong opinion, but I am reading all these ridiculous postings today bashing her and her parents...take care of your own, let her family and supporters focus on rescuing her without dreadful, imbecilic, frankly ignorant postings. God's speed Abby!!

[Burkey]

OK, I just watched the video, and now am heartsick to the core. I don't get any sense at all that this girl had the expertise to do this.

[Scott Kuhner]

I have sailed around the world twice. Once when I was 30 years old in a 30 foot ketch and another time 15 years later in a 40 foot cutter with my family, and have experienced rough conditions (winds 60 + knots and 30 to 40 foot seas). I have been following Abby's blog everyday and have been very impressed about how mature she is and how well she has handled adverse conditions and rough weather. The present situation has nothing to do with her age or her parent's decision to let her go. Abby has been doing everything right and has demonstrated that she is a truly excellent sailor. I remember in 1982, on the first single-handed around the world race, one of the competitors, Tony Lush, lost his keel in rough conditions in the same area that Abby is now and his boat started to sink. He was lucky in that another competitor, Francis Stokes, happened to be only 60 miles away and was able to rescue him.

Abby's parents are suffering enough and we should all be giving them our support and conveying our prayers for Abby. Abby is one strong and mature lady and an excellent sailor. She is in my prayers tonight.

[RB]

I also don't understand all the parent hating. Parents make decisions based on their own values and personal experiences all the time. There are consequenses for every parenting choice one makes. Lock them in the house, and sit them in front of the TV... they won't get lost at sea or hit by a car, but I have to wonder what kind of person they will be. There are social, medical and community wide ramifications for the lack of physical fitness and poor social skills this 'bubble' child will have. But, it's the parents choice they can decide that they would rather have a socially stunted, physically unfit child than one who is ever subjected to an experience that has the remote chance of hurting them. And most people will still have compassion when the unintended consequences of their ill conceived plan is realized, i know I would. As parents we just try to do the best that we can for our kids- help them be who they want to be...

I didn't see all this judgment of Kevin Pearce and his family when he was nearly killed when he got in a training accident. Is it because snowboarding is less dangerous than sailing? Statistically speaking, that isn't the case. What about the kids that get hurt/killed/injured on the road because they are were not ready to drive? Should we call social services the next time a teen gets killed on the road? These parents made a judgment call based on their own extensive sailing experience and (i'm assuming) the value they place on empowering their children to achieve their dreams. My own kids ride bikes, skateboards, play soccer and baseball. They could break their necks, even kill themselves, but I value the self esteem, physical fitness and outlet for expression that these activities provide over more than I fear the risks to their physical well being. I demand that they take precautions (helmets, pads, professional instruction), but I let them participate. We also travel internationally, and sometimes their experience is uncomfortable. But I think first hand experience of other cultures, value systems and places is an acceptable trade-off for a little risk and some discomfort. There are parents, I know, who disagree, who think one or many of those activities are too dangerous. That's the great thing about having your own kids: it's your decision, outside outright endangerment or abuse.

Also, we don't know what happened yet... this could easily be an event where a the most seasoned sailor or older person would have the same outcome. I hope she is ok, I have been following her story. My instict says she is fine. She triggered her own distress signal, she realized she needed help, and she has all the equipment she needs to survive capsizing, the signal is being picked up, it's a matter of time before they find the Wild Eyes, I imagine she will be on the boat. She didn't make it, and yes, the rescue effort cost money and resources, but I'm not willing to say her age played a role. I just don't have enough information to make that judgment, and frankly, neither do any of you.

[Burkey]

There are lots of ways to be heroic and do good in the world. Daredevil acts might be glamorous, but the bottom line is this brave/foolish girl benefits nobody by doing this. On the one hand, I can totally understand the desire to get in a boat and sail far, far away from this internet-addicted petrol-loving zombie paradise where people actually believe they're more real when the public is paying attention to them---if I were 16 right now I'd be in desperate search of reality, too.
When I first heard about this, I thought, OK, her brother did it, now she's got to do it too. It really didn't seem like such a great idea. What's the good that could come of it? It's going to take two whole days for boats just to reach her---two days after the emergency situation in which the beacons go off---two days of torture for everyone who loves this girl and for everyone watching. And, especially, torture for the parents who now must endure the comments here which reflect the reality of what this girl was sailing into all along. The bright lights might beckon and the attention might be exhilarating, but are they worth this?

And I say this not in a spirit of "hate" but with deep regret and bewilderment that heroism to so many people means conquering physical challenges..and nothing more?

[Adventurer]

Life is short. None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. I'm not crazy about 16 year-olds operating cars on the same roads I'm on, but I can't say I don't admire someone at any age going after their dream at the risk of life and limb. If 16 allows you to drive a car and fly an airplane, why couldn't she sail around the world? She is NOT the first 16 year-old to do this....and at least four others that I can name have succeeded. Her efforts are not endangering any of you haters, so why don't you take your eyes off of a stranger and put your energy into fulfilling your own dreams.

[Scott Hammond]

Another prayer for Abby

The Sailor's Prayer
by Thomas Keats

When far from land on the stormy sea
There are times when my boat seems frail to me
Where the rising wind and the monstrous waves
Have sent many souls to their watery graves

When the fog shuts down and blacks out the shore
And the heavy seas on the rocks do roar
Where the hidden shoal and the tricky tide
Could mean my doom without a guide

In times like this our hearts sometime fail
And we fear we'll be lost in the stormy gale
Our thoughts go back to our friends on shore
And loved ones whom we'll probably see no more

But then at last there is a light
Shining through the gloom like a beacon bright
It is our faith in Our Lord we see
Who rules the raging of the sea

Our thoughts go back to the story true
Of Our Lord who protects His disciples crew
Who were sailor's just like me
And we follow their tradition of the sea

So now all sailor's be of good cheer
And always remember Your Lord is near
The word of a hymn which can give courage to thee
Are "Jesus Saviour, Pilot Me".

[Crazysailr]

My heart goes out to the entire Sunderland family and support crew. I sincerely hope Abby is found alive and well! I have read many of the posts here, and while I understand why many people are upset that one so young should be allowed to undertake such a bold adventure, to them I have only this to say: It's not really your concern. The Sunderland family understood well the risks and dangers involved. They all went into this with their eyes open, and it seems Abby and her boat are both as well equipped as possible to handle this voyage. The southern ocean can be cruel to even the most seasoned of sailors, and there is no shame in venturing out into this realm that most of us don't have the strength to confront. I commend both Abby and her family for letting her dreams become a reality! And if perchance she is not found, I hope we can all learn to take strength from the shining example that Abby Sunderland has set for each of us.