Broke Dad Put Abby Up for Sail

Fox News ^ | June 14, 2010

[Ron C.]

Here's a dose of reality.

The father of teen sailor Abby Sunderland told The NY Post that he's broke and had signed a contract to do a reality show, "Adventures in Sunderland," about his family of daredevil kids weeks after she set off on her doomed and dangerous solo sail around the globe.

[carmody]

She survived. By herself. Alone with no contact for at least 2 days. That’s pretty incredible. For me, this is a ‘none of my business’ kind of story. It’s her life.

[UCANSEE2]

For best results, a child should be exposed to danger from an early age.

[thomas16]

Merchant Marines is not a little boat with 1 16 yr. old girl alone going around the world so her parents can have a reality TV show! Joining the Merchant Marines you are providing a service for income. Ah! the romance of the good ole days! Back then she and/or her family would have been put into servitude until her bill was paid!

[Sparky1776]

Thanks Thomas, perhaps she should sell some autographed “It Takes A Village” books, and I didn’t see any safty scissors there either - a must for the modern American.

[DJ MacWoW]

Are you telling me my grandparents were child abusers because they let my father join the Merchant Marines @ age 17?

How about sticking with what I DID say? You haven't addressed ANYTHING that I said.

My father joined the army at 17 to fight in WWII. Was Abby doing something comparable to what our parents did? NO.

What’s more dangerous, giving your underaged child the keys to the family SUV

Instead we'll give them an expensive yacht and send them out in the Indian Ocean in winter where no experienced ADULT sailor will go.

[Man50D]

So, do you think strength could have kept the power of the ocean from damaging the sailboat?

It's very possible she may not have had the physical strength to control the boat and sail through the violent Indian Ocean at the worst possible time of the year given the statement of the Australian's statement.

[thomas16]

I guess it takes more than a village for her it takes a “world” to pay for her “adventures”!

[Gen. Burkhalter]

Sometimes pushing envelopes can lead to disaster. Her voyage was not completed as her mast was felled by rough weather. She’s lucky to be alive. I just read in the Drudgereport there was an earthquake in the Indian Ocean which could have easily triggered a tsunami.

I know of a single parent who would approve of such a dangerous voyage for a young sixteen year old girl all by herself.

The more I find out about this, the more I think this was all about publicity, attention, and money.

[napscoordinator]

Not a surprise. I knew that they were horrible once I found out she was 16 and sailing. Ridiculous!!!

[colorado tanker]

I wouldn't expose my kids at 16 to something like this, but I don't know enough about the kid or the family or sailing to come to an informed opinion.

In general I'm opposed to governments billing for rescues. I think the only result would be that people will get in trouble and not call for help.

I don't put this in the same category as Balloon Boy. That was a pure stunt founded on an outright lie. Here, this girl would really have accomplished a feat if she had made it.

[UCANSEE2]

I am reminded that Steve Fossett, an American Aviator and Adventurer, was flying his plane cross-country. He disappeared.

Our government spent tons of money searching for him.

Did his ‘fortune’ pay the government back?

[Wolfie]

Wrong. They didn’t put that kid in a balloon. Had they, it would have been an “adventure” and no charges would have been filed.

[thomas16]

It really isn’t the same as balloon boy, he wasn’t in the balloon. His parents drew the line at endangering their child.

[The Comedian]

OMG, the help desk is being attacked!

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[MarineBrat]

Sometimes doing nothing can lead to disaster, and if you’re lucky, it leads to nothing. I’m withholding judgment until I see more on the subject.

[meadsjn]

She’s lucky to be alive. I just read in the Drudgereport there was an earthquake in the Indian Ocean which could have easily triggered a tsunami.

You probably already know this, but the safest place to be during a tsunami is far away from the shore.

[thomas16]

I don’t know, you need to get to work on that!

[dalereed]

i’d have done it without hesitation if i had had the boat.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Geez, I must be a really rotten father for letting my daughter ride her bike. Or her motorcycle, or her jet ski, snowmobile, or my boat.

I should just keep her inside, it seems fromt he sentiments raised on this subject here on FR.

Not happening, btw.

[Sparky1776]

What bill Thomas? Don’t we, the Australians, already pay taxes for this kind of stuff?

You’re buying into the liberal notion that because money is involved it’s automatically evil. That you & the village automatically know better.

What you are having a problem with is that she & her family are individuals and as such might mature faster than others.
Her brother made it around, she survived due to her training & safety gear. Good for her and others with a sense for adventure.