Why does anyone enter a race around the world, even if it is a race against your own age? I recall several circumnavigating races that required rescue of one or more participants. Look at the results of the last decade of Vendee Globe races:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vend%C3%A9e_Globe
What is complaint? That she is too young? She logged more offshore miles that a lot of sailors. Plenty of these racing sailors get dismasted and have to be rescued. She was about 230nm from Ile Amsterdam, she probably could have motored there in a pinch or rigged a jury mast.
Like so many others, you’re missing the point.
Some on this thread would attribute *godlike* qualities of heroism and character perfection to Abby. Why, EVERYONE ought to emulate Abby, and furthermore, if you don’t, then you’re not even a conservative!
I’m disagreeing with that blarney and emphasizing that it’s just ego gratification — plain and simple. She’s an attention whore. Nothing more or less base than that.
And, if you want to gratify your ego by racing something, have at it! Just don’t expect me and other taxpayers and innocents to risk their lives to bail you out when you screw up. And then plan to make a teevee show and write a book and make a pile of dough and plan to never compensate your rescuers a nickel — like attention whore Abby and her family.