US teen sailor leaves on flight home to California

FWIX | AP ^ | 6/27/10

[LibWhacker]

SAINT-DENIS, Reunion -- Sixteen-year-old sailor Abby Sunderland is homeward bound - though her plane flight back to California isn't the homecoming she originally imagined when she set off in hopes of sailing around the world.

About two weeks after her rescue at sea, Sunderland departed Sunday from the French island of Reunion, off the southeastern coast of Africa, en route to France, then on to California.

[DJ MacWoW]

They had no insurance either.

[P-Marlowe]

I got my drivers license at 19.

Man, what a pathetic loser you were.

I got my drivers license like everyone else in my high school did, on my 16th Birthday.

My kids at 18.

And you are an overprotective parent.

[porter_knorr]

lol

nice side step. I’m not going to get into a pissing match with you - take care.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I don’t understand the ugly comments about this situation. I’m glad she’s safe, glad she’s on her way home.

The problem I think is that for many of them they look at their own children and realize what a failure they have been as parents.

The parents posting on here that are critical of Abby remember when they as kids built forts, took adventurous neighborhoods hikes...and when they got older rode dirt bikes, went camping, took a canoe trip with their parents.

Now, not giving their kids the same time and attention as their parents gave them - as Abby's parents give here - they lash out at a very visible symbol of their failure as parents.

Here kids, I don't have time to take you to the ball game but here is the lastest baseball video game and a bag of potato chips - and arn't that Abby and her parents terrible.

[DJ MacWoW]

I’m amazed at the posters who don’t know she was sent out 8 months early in a yacht that had problems and they think it was “brave”.

[DJ MacWoW]

Man, what a pathetic loser you were.

How nice. I got my license when I got married as my abusive mother used my lack of wheels as control.

And you are an overprotective parent.

Nope. The oldest was a daredevil and I wasn't stupid enough to get him his license. The middle one had to be forced to get a license as he wasn't interested. He still hates driving. And the oldest is still a daredevil.

[DJ MacWoW]

Since I object to Abby having setting out in a yacht that wasn't ready, how could you POSSIBLY think I'd wish her ill? That is illogical. Your post was meant to insult.

You have a nice evening too.

[toldyou]

“I’m amazed at the posters who don’t know she was sent out 8 months early in a yacht that had problems and they think it was “brave”.”

I agree with you. As you know, sailing experts even said it was too dangerous, and that was BEFORE she departed.

But then again, the parents had the reality show planned...

[DJ MacWoW]

Yes and posters can’t combat the truth with anything but insults.

[editor-surveyor]

Can this be jealousy?

Did this girl embark on a voyage that would have had you shaking in your Uggs?
.

[editor-surveyor]

Amen!
.

[Oztrich Boy]

Just to keep the discussion rational, can we all not mention three things

• Pirates
• Jessica Dubroff
• "Psychologists have shown a teenagers brain does not mature until they are 25"

Thank you. Continue

[P-Marlowe]

How nice. I got my license when I got married as my abusive mother used my lack of wheels as control.

No, you may NOT borrow the car.

[jackibutterfly]

What happened to her boat?

[gunsequalfreedom]

It makes NO sense to accuse me of wishing her ill will.

No, you just wish the U.S. ill will because you can't bring yourself to root for the home team.

[editor-surveyor]

“You should have seen the rattle trap that my parents let me drive when I was 16. You had to pump the brakes to make the car stop and if you drove over 50 the front wheels would bounce up and down and it would overheat if you drove it to the top of an overpass and if you ever stopped the car in a bad neighborhood, the battery was certain to go dead and you’d have to walk home.”

.
Wow, did we have the same parents? :o)

[porter_knorr]

Because you can’t say “I’m glad she’s safe and sound.” All you seem to be able to say is that she shouldn’t have been out there. Even though you’ve admitted you’ve never sailed, you have relied on other people’s opinion. You don’t know the girl or her family, you just sit in judgment.

It’s not an insult, but an observation that you’ve probably never been completely independent. It’s hard to understand adventure and independence if you’ve never had either.

[DJ MacWoW]

It’s nice that you can joke about abuse.

[sharkhawk]

I’m amazed at the posters who don’t know she was sent out 8 months early in a yacht that had problems and they think it was “brave”.

They also don't realize that the girl isn't going to get to try it again, because now she isn't young enough. The only reason that she was sent out early was to gain the record, now she is just someone who wants to sail around the world and no one is going to sponsor that.

[sharkhawk]

I’m amazed at the posters who don’t know she was sent out 8 months early in a yacht that had problems and they think it was “brave”.

They also don't realize that the girl isn't going to get to try it again, because now she isn't young enough. The only reason that she was sent out early was to gain the record, now she is just someone who wants to sail around the world and no one is going to sponsor that.