She sets off- Abby Sunderland

[DryArmour]

Teen Sets Out On Solo, Worldwide Sailing Trip

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (CBS) -- Sixteen-year-old sailor Abby Sunderland set out from Marina del Rey Saturday on a nonstop, solo trip around the world. If the winds are favorable, she could become the youngest person to ever do it.

She had a look of "resolution" on her face as she sailed out of the marina, determined to take on a voyage that she has been longing for since she was 13, spokesperson Matt Tolnick said.

"Throughout the press conference she was very confident. She knows about the risk. I think the basic message was to not give up on your dreams," Tolnick said. "There were close to a dozen boats escorting her out. The Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles County lifeguard boats were a part of the send off, beeping and sending out water."

The Thousand Oaks teenager had been waiting for the local weather to break.

She is sailing in a high-tech open-ocean racing design called Wild Eyes -- an Open 40.

From Cape Horn, she will head east into the South Atlantic and around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Indian Ocean and back into the Pacific. The entire trip could take about six months.

"I had begun to think that dreams are meant to be more than dreams and that in reality dreams don't come true," Abby wrote on her Web site. "Then my brother (Zac) left on his trip. It was amazing to see all the support that he got from around the world and to see who everyone worked together to help make his dream reality. Watching him do this really made me believe that I could too."

Sutherland's older brother Zac briefly became the world's youngest solo circumnavigator last year at age 17.

Click HERE to Visit Abby's Blog

 

[robalex117]

That was quick. She just got the boat about a month ago if I remember correctly. You think she would want a little more time go get to know the boat. But I guess time is of the essence if she wants to break the record.

Teen Sets Out On Solo, Worldwide Sailing Trip

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (CBS) -- Sixteen-year-old sailor Abby Sunderland set out from Marina del Rey Saturday on a nonstop, solo trip around the world. If the winds are favorable, she could become the youngest person to ever do it.

She had a look of "resolution" on her face as she sailed out of the marina, determined to take on a voyage that she has been longing for since she was 13, spokesperson Matt Tolnick said.

"Throughout the press conference she was very confident. She knows about the risk. I think the basic message was to not give up on your dreams," Tolnick said. "There were close to a dozen boats escorting her out. The Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles County lifeguard boats were a part of the send off, beeping and sending out water."

The Thousand Oaks teenager had been waiting for the local weather to break.

She is sailing in a high-tech open-ocean racing design called Wild Eyes -- an Open 40.

From Cape Horn, she will head east into the South Atlantic and around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Indian Ocean and back into the Pacific. The entire trip could take about six months.

"I had begun to think that dreams are meant to be more than dreams and that in reality dreams don't come true," Abby wrote on her Web site. "Then my brother (Zac) left on his trip. It was amazing to see all the support that he got from around the world and to see who everyone worked together to help make his dream reality. Watching him do this really made me believe that I could too."

Sutherland's older brother Zac briefly became the world's youngest solo circumnavigator last year at age 17.

Click HERE to Visit Abby's Blog

 

[CruiserJim]

That was quick. She just got the boat about a month ago if I remember correctly. You think she would want a little more time go get to know the boat. But I guess time is of the essence if she wants to break the record.

Yeah, not ideal setting off with a bunch of newly-installed stuff that's only been shaken down on a couple of quick overnight jaunts. Also she's setting out a bit later than originally planned. Hope she's made of the same stuff as Jessica Watson. But she set to goal to go, and she's left the dock. Fair winds Abby.

 

[Mr. Fawning]

Like I mentioned in her other thread last night, Channel 11 news gave her a couple of minutes of air time at the beginning of the hour. She struck me as being veeeery young. And 2 years younger than The Nursetta. As a semi-paranoid parent, I'd think I'd be acting like a semi-paranoid parent if'n she was mine. But our family wishes her all the luck in the world and hope she pulls this off with nary a scratch.

Sail safe, Abby........

 

[mustang__1]

Like I mentioned in her other thread last night, Channel 11 news gave her a couple of minutes of air time at the beginning of the hour. She struck me as being veeeery young. And 2 years younger than The Nursetta. As a semi-paranoid parent, I'd think I'd be acting like a semi-paranoid parent if'n she was mine. But our family wishes her all the luck in the world and hope she pulls this off with nary a scratch.
Sail safe, Abby........

hi gina... i mean... someone else not gina...

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Considering Reid Stowe's ability to drift around for 1000 days without major incident, she might just make it. But Reid's got a heavy ferrocement monster, and little Jess's boat is also stout and cruisy compared to Abby's Open 40, which will do 10 knots or more under bare poles in a big storm. It could get really ugly for her.

Compared to Jess Watson, Abby comes off as somewhat clueless - and after all, who else are you going to compare a 16 year old circumnavigation candidate to? Then again, as her papa says, "we're born-again Christians, and ultimately it's all up to god" or something like that. It's toward the end of this clip.

And to echo Boothy - I hope all these kids succeed. Certainly ain't a bad thing to have more interest in singlehanding.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

Duh shit. I thought fer sure Clean was gonna post something about teens in skirts like

 

[Mr. Fawning]

Considering Reid Stowe's ability to drift around for 1000 days without major incident, she might just make it. But Reid's got a heavy ferrocement monster, and little Jess's boat is also stout and cruisy compared to Abby's Open 40, which will do 10 knots or more under bare poles in a big storm. It could get really ugly for her.
But compared to Jess Watson, Abby comes off as somewhat clueless. Then again, as her papa says, "we're born-again Christians, and ultimately it's all up to god" or something like that. It's toward the end of this clip.

You're kidding me, aintcha? That strategy has been proven time and time again for over 2 millennia as to be about as trustworthy as the f'ng ryhthm method........

 

[pogen]

At 7:00

We're born-again Christians and nothing is... we don't make any decision just based on a feeling, or even on sound knowledge, we also pray about it.

Hmmm. Like Boothy, excuse me I mean El Mariachi, or El (may I call you that?), I'm pretty sure my 17-year old isn't ready for that big a mission.

Nice boat! Pretty big step up from the Islander 36 her brother had. I wonder how they swung the finances.

All the best to her, and fair winds!

 

[big chicken]

I wonder how they swung the finances.

I would guess they're betting on the come. They'll sell the story to Entertainment Tonight or any other one of those useless gossip tv shows. The only way the family loses is if she doesn't make it in time to set the youngest record. If she does make it or if she dies or sinks in the attempt, the family will get paid enough to pay off the boat.

 

[Mr. Fawning]

And I'm of the feeling that if she dies or sinks, her family is going to have to buy passage on Reid's boat and go into hiding for a 1000 days. I don't see where any financial reward would materialize out of either of those two scenarios. Especially the first.........

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Just heard that she has no kites aboard. Her possible average just went WAY down, can't imagine she'll be out of the Southern Ocean before things get bad.

 

[InNeedOfSomeRestraint]

Just heard that she has no kites aboard. Her possible average just went WAY down, can't imagine she'll be out of the Southern Ocean before things get bad.

Thats not going to help her outrun storms :lol:

That said, she's a cute thing. I'd hit it

 

[Zipped]

That said, she's a cute thing. I'd hit it

+1

 

[Raz'r]

good luck kid.

 

[laserichard]

GO THE ABBY!!!

 

[gina]

Cheezus, 16 years old! When my girls got their driver's licenses at age 17 I made them call me every time they arrived and left any destination and even then I worried

Can't even imagine.......

Fair winds Jess and Abby.

 

[Dawg]

[No message]

 

[dnice]

Since Zac lost, its only right that Abby give it a go.

and if she fails, well... atleast there's 4 more Sunderland kids to make the family's fortune. One of them has to win eventually!

I hope she survives.

and I hope all those shoes do not end up in baby albatross bellies.