16 year old American Abby Sunderland’s sailboat yacht went missing in the Indian Ocean during her attempt to break the record for youngest to sail solo, unassisted around the world. How could anyone be surprised by this? Regardless of her age or gender, the Indian Ocean is treacherous for any experienced sailor, especially during the current winter weather conditions.
The family posted this message on Abby’s blog about the massive search effort in progress:
“We are working closely with American, French and Australian Search & Rescue authorities to coordinate several ships in the area to divert to her location. There are several ships in her area, the earliest possible contact is 40 hours. We are actively seeking out some sort of air rescue but this is difficult due to the remoteness of her location. Australian Search & Rescue have arranged to have a Quantas Airbus fly over her location at first light (she is 11 hours later). They will not be able to help her other than to talk via marine radio if they are able to get close enough. Hopefully, they will be able to assess her situation and report back to us.”
Marianne and Team Abby
Early on the morning she was spotted by a Quantas Jet sent to search for her, the Australian government announced that they will not seek reimbursement for the extensive rescue costs.
Now Abby has been rescued by the fishing vessel Ile de la Reunion and in the process the Captain of the fishing boat fell in and had to be rescued himself in dangerous conditions.
According to the New York Times, Abby’s father, Laurence Sunderland in an interview on “The Early Show” on CBS, Mr. Sunderland praised his daughter’s skills as a sailor. He said he not only would let her try the voyage again, but would also “absolutely endorse that wholeheartedly.”
A new storm is brewing as the Sunderland Family not only go on the defensive about their decisions and actions; they are on the offensive attacking every bit of criticism.
Now is the moment for Abby Sunderland and the rest of the Sunderland family to turn to the heroes who risked their lives to save Abby and simply say thank you and then shut up. Stop being selfish for once.
But no, stubbornness prevails. Abby updated her blog from the fishing vessel, where she complains about having to use a french keyboard and then goes straight into how unfair it is of the press to pounce on her because of her age. This initial post is all about her, not a single word of gratitude. This speaks volumes of her maturity level, how dare anyone have questioned it?
My original interest in this story was related to the rescue costs, based on my firm belief that constraints and consequences are both important drivers of behavior. If she, or the next one who comes along to break the record, hasn’t raised enough money to cover costs of a possible rescue; then it should be a no go. (It was quite admirable that the American sailing Association rejected her sponsorship request due to their risk assessment.) Merely wanting to do the trip, should not be enough.
The problem with the existence this record of “youngest” is obviously that the obsession with beating it will continue to bring the age down to, what? Abby’s mother is reportedly pregnant with her eighth child. We can only hope that the newborn baby will not be involved in a sailing stunt in the very near future.
Suzy Ogé is an American born business woman living in The Hague, The Netherlands. 
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Her awful “complaint” about having to use a french keyboard consisted of “I can’t write much now as I am typing on a french key pad as well as trying to stay seated in a bouncy fishing boat.”
Her observation that “everybody is eager to pounce on my story now that something bad has happened” is fairly well exemplified by your sudden interest.
Ah well, now you have at least one response to indicate that any human being gives a damn what you think about this.
Dear Eric,
Whether she is typing on a French keyboard or writing a message in a bottle to get her statement out to the world, it is unbelievable that her message is about how unfair her treatment is in the press. She has just been rescued. People have risked their lives for her. No mention of it.
Yes, many of us have previously ignored these quests to be the “youngest ever”, finding them absurd rather than heroic. Now that the world is expected to come to the rescue, risking lives and paying the tab, the wind has been taken out of the sails of the argument that it is up to the children and their parents alone.
I agree completely that the whole family has been/is selfish. As an American, I am embarrassed for them. It might just make sense that this is all for the accolades and for a reality TV show, as some have suggested. We can expect some immaturity from a 16 year old, but the sheer egotism of her parents cannot be excused.
Yes Jude,
I feel the same embarrassment. At first the expedition just seemed irresponsible, but the more the family speaks, the more outrageous it becomes.
Their sense of entitlement that the entire world should unequivocally support them and be responsible for making their daughter’s dream come true at any cost, is just too much.
Regarding the reality show, this family seems a lot like the “boy in the balloon stunt” family!
And in the meantime Abby, the money that went to your rescue could have helped a lot of children in third world countries go to school, feed the children in Africa, or help clean the oil spill in the gulf. But no, you just had to beat a record, didn’t you?!
Well, news is out on the reality TV show. Strange family indeed.
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/abby-sunderlands-father-laurence-inked-reality-show-deal/19515098
I don’t know enough about this story to have an opinion either way, but that first comment was just so needlessly rude!
Thank you Mina, for saying so.