Editor's Note: There's a lot of humming on the Internet about whether Abby Sunderland's parents were being responsible when they allowed her to attempt a solo attempt to sail around the world. But people don't seem to have much of a problem with the cost of the attempt. Long distance ocean sailing is a very expensive sport. Abby Sunderland's racing boat alone, a Class40/Open 40 probably cost about $90,000, not considering the costs of sailing around the world. The same boat, in good condition can cost between $350 to $400,000. It would take a person in Haiti and in many other parts of the world 123 years to earn $90,000 at $2 per day.
Before her rescue, the search for her already cost the Australian taxpayer $200,000 and we're told that an aerial search could cost a cool million.
Ms. Sunderland, father is a shipwright and has a yacht management company, which is apparently in bad shape due to the sinking economy. His son, Zac took a round-world solo trip in 2009 which Laurence Sunderland said cost about $140,000. At the time, the family was plunging "hopelessly into debt". At that time they had a website appeal for the public to "Help Support Zac's World Adventure". The wisdom of a parent who will allow his 16 year old child, albeit an experienced and knowledgeable sailor, may be questionable. But the financial costs of ventures like this when so many people around the world are in desperate need of basic provisions is the question that should be the greater concern. It's one more small wrong-headed products of the capitalist system.
- Les Blough, Editor
Abby Sunderland on her sailboat Wild Eyes in Ensenada, Mexico, during her
attempt at a solo round-the-world voyage., Photograph: Lisa Gizara/EPA
A teenage girl attempting to sail solo around the world was rescued yesterday in a remote spot of the Indian Ocean, bringing to a successful conclusion the dramatic bid to save her life.
Sixteen-year-old American Abby Sunderland was picked up from her stricken vessel by a dinghy launched from the French fishing boat Ile de la Reunion.
Wild Eyes adrft in the Indian Ocean, spotted from
a rescue plane. Photograph: Will Blackshaw/AP
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Abby Sunderland on her sailboat Wild Eyes in Ensenada, Mexico, during her attempt at a solo round-the-world voyage., Photograph: Lisa Gizara/EPA |
Her father, Laurence Sunderland, speaking to reporters outside their California home, said his daughter was safe and well: "She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands. She was in good spirits… she talked to her mother."
However, the same cannot be said of Sunderland's yacht, Wild Eyes. The vessel was apparently pounded by gigantic waves that had destroyed its mast, which in turn knocked out her satellite communications equipment. The yacht was then effectively left floundering midway between Africa and Australia. It is likely to be allowed to sink.
Sunderland had activated an emergency beacon which started a huge search and rescue operation involving Australia, America and France. Numerous ships became involved in the hunt, as well as a chartered jet which spotted the teenager late on Thursday. Sunderland was able to radio the plane and say report that was fit and had food and water supplies.
The rescue itself was not without incident as rough seas saw the captain of the French boat fall into the water. "He was fished out in difficult conditions," said a statement from the French territory of Reunion Island.
Though the search for Sunderland ended happily, it has caused a debate on the wisdom of such young sailors making dramatic and dangerous journeys. Sunderland was following the achievement of her brother, Zac, who had made the solo journey around the world at the age of 17, becoming the youngest person in the world to do so.
Many critics of Sunderland – and her parents – have criticised the decision to let her go on such a journey. "It's not something that a 16-year-old should be able to decide whether they're capable of doing it. It's potentially irresponsible for the parents," Michael Kalin, junior director of San Francisco's St Francis Yacht Club, told the Associated Press.
Other top figures from the world of sailing joined in the criticism. "In Abby's case she was lucky. It's only a matter of time until we end up with a tragedy on our hands," said Derrick Fries, a world sailing champion and author of Learn to Sail.
Such opinions by professionals have been echoed on blogs and comments on news articles as members of the public have called the Sunderlands irresponsible and careless. One commentator on the Los Angeles Times website summed up the view of many: "Abby Sunderland was on the wrong type of boat (a racing yacht) in the wrong location (the southern Indian Ocean) at the wrong time of year (winter in the southern hemisphere). Other than those minor details it was a well-planned voyage."
But the family have robustly defended themselves. They have pointed out that Abby is a highly experienced and highly skilled sailor. They have even used the debate to criticise the too-careful tendency of much modern parenting advice and said that a certain amount of risky challenge was healthy for an adventurous child.
"I never questioned my decision in letting her go. In this day and age we get overprotective with our children," Laurence Sunderland said. "Look at how many teenagers die in cars every year. Should we let teenagers drive cars? I think it'd be silly if we didn't."
The Guardian
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