Posted on 06/10/2010 12:08:52 PM PDT by Dallas59
Sunderland, who had been attempting to sail around the world alone, endured multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds Thursday before conditions briefly abated.
However, her parents lost satellite phone contact early this morning and an hour later were notified by the Australian Coast Guard that both of Sunderland's EPIRB satellite devices had been activated.
One is apparently is attached to a survival suit or a life raft and meant to be used when a person is in the water or aboard a life raft.
Abby's father struggled with emotions and 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 said. "But then our call dropped and a hour later the Coast Guard called."
Abby is hundreds of miles from land. The nearest ship was about 400 miles away. The rescue effort is being coordinated by the French-controlled Reunion Islands and Australia. Sunderland had been sailing in 50- to 60-foot seas and it was dark when the EPIRB devices were activated.
(Excerpt) Read more at grindtv.com ...
With 60 knot winds, you don’t need pirates.
^^^
Amen.
...how responsible is it to allow a 16 year old out on this kind of endeavor, no matter how accomplished she is?
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She knew what she was doing. She’s sixteen not 6.
Her parents should be horsewhipped.
&&
Why? She was pursuing a dream.
We need to let our young people see what they are made of. This kind of trip is not for everyone — I would never attempt it in a million years — but some people just feel compelled to do this sort of daredevil stuff.
Update from Abby’s Parents
http://soloround.blogspot.com/
We spoke with Abby early this morning and learned that she had had a very rough day with winds up to 60 knots and seas 20-25 feet. She had been knocked down several times but was handling things well. The wind had subsided to around 35 knots which she and Wild Eyes are quite comfortable with.
We were helping her troubleshoot her engine that she was trying to start to charge her systems. Satellite phone reception was patchy. She was able to get the water out of the engine and start her up. We were waiting to hear back from her when American Search & Rescue authorities called to report having received a signal from her emergency beacon (EPIRB). We initially thought that the signal was sent automatically from her water-activated EPIRB and that it had been activated during one of her knockdowns. As we pulled the paperwork from her EPIRB registration, we learned that the signal had come from her manually activated EPIRB.
We were referred to Australian Search & Rescue and while we were on the phone with them another signal came in from her handheld PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Her water-activated EPIRB has not been activated so we are hopeful that the boat is still upright.
We are working closely with American, French and Australian Search & Rescue authorities to coordinate several ships in the area to divert to her location. There are several ships in her area, the earliest possible contact is 40 hours. We are actively seeking out some sort of air rescue but this is difficult due to the remoteness of her location. Australian Search & Rescue have arranged to have a Quantas Airbus fly over her location at first light (she is 11 hours later). They will not be able to help her other than to talk via marine radio if they are able to get close enough. Hopefully, they will be able to assess her situation and report back to us.
Abby has all of the equipment on board to survive a crisis situation like this. She has a dry suit, survival suit, life raft, and ditch bag with emergency supplies. If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible. Wild Eyes is designed for travel in the Southern Ocean and is equipped with 5 air-tight bulkheads to keep her buoyant in the event of major hull damage. It is built to Category 0 standards and is designed to self-right in the event of capsize.
Thank you for all of your kind emails and calls. We appreciate your prayers and support.
We will update as soon as there is some news.
Laurence, Marianne and Team Abby
How close is she getting to pirate territory?
At this point, she would be lucky if pirates found her.
She is literally in the middle of nowhere!
...she was going west to east and down into the 40’s....
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The Roaring Forties....
I think her parents did an outstanding job of training her and preparing her for something she wanted to do.
Imagine telling Clara Burton that she was too young when she started teaching at the age of 17....look at what she went on to do.
I don’t think it was for money or fame, just something she was passionate about.
Some kids are mature enough to do things, and some people old enough to be the President never mature all the way!
I hope they find her safe and happy to be found.
I have been under sail in 60kt winds, and we were knocked down. Five young, strong, knowledgable guys and were were scared s-less.
Prays for her in her hour of need.
Robin Graham.
Really? I cannot imagine.
I do think she’s the one who’s older brother also did all of this and successfully! I think she wanted to do as well as he, and younger!
Yeah, because teaching is just like sailing solo around the world..........
I can’t either. Never saw anything that big, not even close. But it’s worth mentioning that period is maybe more important than height. I’ve been in 30 foot waves that were 200 yards apart. No big deal, just huge fast swells. I’ve been in 10-15’ers that were evil, with vertical faces and very close together.
Yep, you are in total fear and survival mode, genuinely wondering if you will see land again.
For her it’s much worse.
On her side is her EPIRB. If she was dismasted and knocked down, rolled etc, BUT her hull is sound and she’s not badly injured, she will be rescued. If she lit off two EPIRBs manually (not auto released by sinking) then then she’s probably okay.
Much will be known by her drift track. Her 40’er adrift and dismasted will probably make about 5 kts downwind. A raft will have ballast pockets and will almost match the ocean current.
All this talk about children’s DREAMS. Well, if my children had dreams of doing something that interfered with my job of getting them alive to adulthood, then they should please keep dreaming. 18 comes soon enough. I would not let my children do something like this.
I am praying hard for Abby to be safely rescued.
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