Teen Sailor Abby Sitting Tight and Waiting for Rescue

[Teacher Mark 53]

Having spent more than 12 hours nursing her stricken yacht through gale-force winds and mountainous seas, California teenager Abby Sunderland is now "sitting tight" as rescuers steam towards her crippled boat 2000 nautical miles from the Australian mainland.

A Qantas A330 Airbus carrying West Australian water police and emergency workers trained in aerial spotting made radio contact with the 16-year-old yesterday afternoon after she activated two EPIRB distress signals at about 3am (AEST) yesterday, sparking an international rescue mission.

But one of Australia's leading yachtsmen and Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan has attacked Sunderland and her team, saying the ill-prepared adventure risked the lives of rescuers involved in the costly operation.

He said her voyage had been badly timed and conditions in the Southern and Indian oceans this time of year were terrible. "(It's) essentially hurricane force winds. I saw seas down there 60 and 70 feet in height," he told The Weekend Australian. "It's absolutely a risky journey at this time of the year, you're sticking your neck out. It concerns me greatly. I'm in favour of adventures, I don't have a problem with the age, but when people get into trouble it's not only their own necks that they're risking, they're risking the lives and the safety of their rescuers and that's not equitable in my book."

Rescuers said Abby was in good spirits on her 12m yacht, Wild Eyes, when they made contact at about 4pm eastern time. The yacht's engine was not working and the mast was broken, but the boat was afloat and upright.

A French fishing vessel has been redirected to the scene and is due to reach Wild Eyes by 5pm (Eastern time) today. Two other ships have also been redirected and will arrive tomorrow. .

Long-range aircraft are also assisting with the operation by regularly checking the yacht's co-ordinates to make sure it can be located. According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Sunderland may be taken to Reunion Island. West Australian police sergeant Graham Clifford said the teenager had been told to get her possessions ready and wait for the rescue vessel.

"She's very lucky . . . she's just got to sit tight now," he said.

Sunderland, who has dreamed of sailing solo around the world since she was 13, had been battling winds of 60 knots or more and 8m swells before she launched the emergency beacons.

Sunderland, from Thousand Oaks, California, set sail from Los Angeles on January 23 with the ambition of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone without stopping.

Her brother briefly held the record last year.

But she soon ran into equipment problems and had to stop for repairs. She gave up her goal in April, but continued on.

On May 15, Australian Jessica Watson claimed the record just days before turning 17.

Sailor Marty Still, who helped Watson prepare her yacht yesterday said Sunderland's boat was designed for racing and was not easy to handle.

"To do an around the world voyage in that boat single-handed would take a very experienced and strong person and I do not consider it is a suitable boat for a 16-year-old girl, whatever experience she may have," he said.

Mr Still said Watson's Ella's Pink Lady, was a much more forgiving boat that could be "left to its own devices" in tough conditions.

According to Sunderland's website, Wild Eyes is designed for travel in the Southern Ocean.

Sunderland's boat-building father Laurence, told ABC radio: "It's bittersweet. We've got our Abby back but the quest will be over. (But) knowing she's alive and well means far more to me than any sailing record."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/teen-sailor-abby-sitting-tight-and-waiting-for-rescue/story-e6frg6nf-1225878643739

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What a relief!

[^_^ 5,021]

Who is paying for the rescue efforts? I hope not one cent of anyones tax dollars go towards helping this idiot.

[lostinblue 1,989]

The parents should be charged with child abuse

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The parents should be charged with child abuse

If you were the judge, that would be your verdict? What kind of sentence would give them? 3 years of hard labor?

[Teacher Mark 53]

If you were the judge, that would be your verdict? What kind of sentence would give them? 3 years of hard labor?

3 years with Booya as a houseguest would suffice.

[^_^ 5,021]

If you were the judge, that would be your verdict? What kind of sentence would give them? 3 years of hard labor?

Just garnish their wages and seize their assets until the Australians are compensated for every penny they're spending on rescuing this idiot. And then some more, just to say thank you for saving the life of an admittedly stupid American.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Who is paying for the rescue efforts? I hope not one cent of anyones tax dollars go towards helping this idiot.

Sigh.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Great.... Some jerk off producer/screen writer are making the script for a movie of this as we speak...

[Pooky 3,844]

Just glad a 16 year old girl is okay.