Where is Abby Sunderland, and why is she out there?

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Nick

I woke this morning to the news of Abby Sunderland. To be honest, in amongst the Jessica fanfare I had forgotten she was out there on her Open 40 trying to beat a record… When I was in Hawaii, I had fanciful dreams of selling Constellation and using the money to charter the boat ‘Wild Eyes’ which Abby is currently floating around in, for a transatlantic. The broker soon stopped talking to me, and I couldn’t figure out why – And then Abby appeared with that very boat!

So of course, the web is now awash with commentary on child sailors, irresponsibility etc. In success these ‘kids’ are heroes, in failure their parents are maniacs and terrible people. There is little point in harking on about this, the plain fact is, there is a sailor stuck down in the southern ocean right now, and my only question has nothing to do with age, boats or parenting: It’s simply: Why is she in the southern ocean in winter? After some searching I found her last known position, and mapped it against Tony Bullimore who capsized in a similar area. At least he was down there at the right time of year, 1200nm from where Abby is now:

Australian rescue services always get the task of looking after these waters… In fact, said services have just sent a Qantas Airbus down there to sweep over her. In 1997 when Tony Bullimore was down there as part of a race, he and a French sailor were picked up, the story as follows: “The Royal Australian Navy launched a rescue mission for Bullimore and another capsized competitor, Thierry Dubois. Bullimore was alive and managed to survive in an air pocket in the upside-down boat in pitch darkness, having lost his food supplies – his only food was a bar of chocolate. On January 9, Thierry Dubois was rescued by an Australian S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter embarked on the frigate HMAS Adelaide. Adelaide then proceeded further south to where the Exide Challenger had been located by a RAAF P-3 Orion. Adelaide dispatched an rigid-hulled inflatable boat to the Exide Challenger where crew members knocked on the hull. Hearing the noise, Bullimore swam out from his boat and was quickly rescued by personnel from Adelaide. HMAS Adelaide then returned both Dubois and Bullimore to Perth.”

The estimated cost of this rescue was six million dollars. However, rescue costs are difficult to calculate, and while Webb Chiles might not agree with a pickup, I think she should be at whatever financial cost.

Criticism is so easy from an armchair. She’ll be terrified right now, but thankfully the boat she’s in is nearly unsinkable… Five watertight bulkheads, a hull loaded with foam designed for the very ocean she is in. I have no idea why she is sailing where she is right now, however this is what she’s experiencing:

It’s a calculated gamble to sail anywhere, at any time, but we can lessen the potential negative outcome of that risk, by succumbing to natures seasonable characteristics…

It’s winter in the southern hemisphere, and even at the best of times, it’s the world’s most terrifying ocean. Whether you’re 16, or 55 years old is irrelevant.

nick.

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  • http://www.againstallcods.blogspot.com Maria

    Nick,
    That is exactly what I thought. Wrong season.
    The rest is elementary.
    Most tragedies at sea, and lets hope this one ends at the other end of the scale, are because people ignore the seasons.
    I’m no sailor yet but I’m never going to sail out of Mexico in the hurricane season. Never.

  • http://scottsdalearizonanews.blogspot.com/ Pete Kosednar

    Hey Nick:

    Wow – wrong season. Hope this turn out ok. In 45 minutes to an hour we should get updates from the Quantas fly over.

  • PAZ

    The more I’ve read online – the more I realize this is a pretty typical ‘voyage’ for, obviously, some rich and very bored families of teen age kids. I even get the impression that there’s a tiny community of sailors that are trying to one up each other with their kids. Kids can dream – it doesn’t mean as a parent we aren’t responsible for choosing wisely for them. Sure, some made it safely and some would argue you cross street and you could get hit by a bus. True. But we, as parents, should reduce risk in their lives until they are old enough to make those decisions with enough life experience. Someone else stated that at least she died ‘living’ not going to the mall and hanging with friends. At what point did it become nescessary for a 16 year old to ‘live’ and not just be a kid? And if their life is taken in some adventure they aren’t prepared for – did they lose something more valuable they couldn’t have appreciated yet – like their own family or many other adventures that would have been more tame as they got older? Why does a 16 year old have to do it? Why couldn’t they wait until life gives them a bit more experience in their 20′s? Why? Because it’s not about doing the feat – it’s all about the record. I’d almost guess, that after their 17 year old son did the same thing last year – they were upset that a 16 year old girl was setting out on the same voyage to claim the record. Now, the family had to get the record back.

    Here’s the thing – the right thing might have been to let her do it, but have a chase boat with her. She still would have sailed by herself. The problem? The ‘officials’ wouldn’t have considered it solo..therefore she wouldn’t get credit for the record…which goes back to the whole point – this is about competition…nothing more. I pray for Abby and hope she is fine. I am also a bit frustrated how ‘in stride’ her family is portraying all of this. Maybe I’d have less venom towards them if they showed more emotion than simply saying “Well, it’s in God’s hand now” and “It would take something extraordinary to occur for her to survive”. Maybe that is the reality or maybe their grief taking over. But, I just don’t feel it. Anyway – off to bed..this story has kept me up tonight and been watching the news online..hoping to hear something good from a Quantis flight that should be arriving soon.

    I am, myself, an accomplished 37 year old sailor – been sailing since I was 2. I have three children. I don’t get it. I really don’t. I don’t think Jessica or Zac are heroes. I still think their parents are crazy. Just like in sport – if a coach makes a crazy decision..the outcome shouldn’t dictate whether it was a good decision…it should be what made you make that decision.

  • http://www.bigoceans.com Nick

    Once upon a time, there were warriors, vikings, kings and queens all in their teens. I don’t find the age thing particularly relevant – I think the technical aspects are far more important. Also, there are no official age-based records to be had in this arena.

    Maybe Abby’s parents seem cold, but, I’m sure they’ve psychologically prepared themselves for this kind of scenario long ago. I also don’t think emotions and outbursts of despair are really very helpful right now for anyone involved – I think Abby’s dad is just being honest – His daughter is in a really bad place right now, and he’s saying it as it is, and I personally find it pretty admirable.

  • http://www.againstallcods.blogspot.com Maria

    They found her! Yay!

  • http://gaia.csus.edu/~changw Weide

    Hi, Nick,
    Long time since you wrote a long one. This event really sputtered quite a few critical thinkings…
    About the season, I suppose the time was running out in order to beat the record (before a certain age). But I’m sure everyone around her had mentioned the seasonal problem and Abby must have insisted to try this herself…
    As to the issue of age, it always depends on where we stand (as a protective parent or an adventurous child, typically, etc.) and see it. A prevalent argument in the same vein has been this: in US, 18 is old enough to become a soldier (to let kill and die) but not alcohol consumption allowed. And I’m sure you can find other ironic age treatments for the young.
    Indeed, 14 was a common age when people became parents and managed to do things unimaginable by today’s standards. Things like walking 60 miles a day to find food and water, maybe barefooted, etc…
    Perhaps someday technology can aid solo circumnavigation so much that a baby or toddler can be placed onboard to just play and feed for a few months (video-phoning from parents periodically) while the machine and computer does the rest… :)
    With all said, it’s so good in the end no one is lost! And I’m glad that you were right in the midst of both Watson and Sunderland’s voyages and endeavors, and we were in yours. :) Cheers!
    PS. Yours was a lot harder considered the resources and safety.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1378294622 Angeles Cocker

    cheers for the new blog.

  • http://codymaldonado20.livejournal.com/966.html Essie Tirey

    I respect Abby Sunderland. She is such a courageous youthful lady. Been able to travel alone in pretty unsafe seas for reaching her end goal. Too awful she got an accident and could not complete her voyage.