Posted on 06/10/2010 4:35:46 PM PDT by jimbo123
The engineer behind Abby Sunderland's solo trip around the world says he believes the 16-year-old Thousand Oaks sailor is "alive" and "most likely floating" in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Speaking to a throng of reporters outside the family's home, Jeff Casher said he spoke to her at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, then lost contact after she went to check on some equipment on her boat. About an hour later, she apparently activated her emergency beacons – devices that sent automatic alerts to the Coast Guard and her family.
Casher said the family is looking at three possible scenarios. Either the boat's mast came down, giving her no ability to sail the vessel; the keel hit something and possibly flipped the boat upside down; or she may have broken an arm or leg while being whipsawed about in violent waters.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
We can only pray for her safety.
“most likely floating”
Yeah, you know.. unless she sunk.
Then she isn’t floating so much.
Why not look at scenarios 4 through 86 as well?
I hope this kid is found in one piece, but this whole thing seems a bit over the edge to me.
Anyone who let’s their kid do this alone is a fool.
Yet another teen pushed beyond his/her limits for publicity sake. I pray she will be found alive. The parents who allowed this should have their heads examined. Similar incident happened some years back with a father pushing his daughter to do a long range flight. Very sad and needless.
doa
doa
Would sharks be a problem in those waters?
Same goes for the teen climbing Everest, it is Russian Roulette at altitude.
Well, he’s an engineer, so he must know. /s
Sharks .. are a problem .. In All waters!
Water temperature is probably a bigger problem.
I can’t imagine letting a kid do this without a fairly large sized rescue boat nearby. Visual range at all times even, for someone this young. Ts it either too costly, bad for the ego, or just not worth the bother to do it?
Robin Graham and his “Dove” was 16 in 1965 when he began his circumnavigation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Lee_Graham
Floating in the middle of the ocean.
Oh, well that’s not so bad then. /s
When I try to determine what motivates people to do what they do, one of the questions I ask myself is, “If this person were not permitted to let anyone else know that they do what they do, would they still do it?”
Sounds like a silly question. But what I’ve found is that a lot of people are largely motivated to do things in order to be popular or recognized or respected for what they do.
For instance, how many people would perform an extreme triathlon if they had to do it alone and could tell no one?
And how many parents would still push their children to do things if there were no chance of fame being attached to it?
I know some people would continue to do what they do. But I also know a lot of people do what they do so that they can brag about it to others.
I don’t know what motivated this child or her family. And I’m not trying to be harsh. I just think that something has gone terribly wrong in our society when so many are seeking fame.
I won’t be surprised if the quest for fame is soon to be diagnosed as a legitimate psychological disorder.
By the way, why isn’t she in school?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.