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→‎Emergency radio beacons activated: remove incorrect and unrefed statement. In no way does the speed or direction indicate the boat is capsized, impossible to know until visual contact
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====Emergency radio beacons activated====
====Emergency radio beacons activated====
On June 10 Sunderland's two manually operated [[Distress_radiobeacon|emergency radio beacons]] were activated and satellite phone contact was lost.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.australia-times.com.au/world/article.php?id=6626 |title=Search underway for missing US teen sailor |publisher=Australia Times |date=11 June 2010 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> A third beacon which triggers automatically if it goes 15 feet underwater was not activated. Sunderland was sailing in high winds and had suffered multiple knockdowns. She was sailing northeast of the [[Kerguelen Islands]], about 2000 miles west of [[Australia]].<ref>sail-world.com, [http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Three-countries-in-Search-and-Rescue-for-Abby-Sunderland/70615 Three countries in search and rescue for Abby Sunderland] 10 June 2010, retrieved 10 June 2010</ref> A rescue effort is under way.<ref>http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/06/teen-sailor-abby-sunderland-focus-of-emergency-rescue-effort.html</ref><ref>http://abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-sunderland-possibly-lost-sea/story?id=10877108</ref> The [[Australian Maritime Safety Authority]] has sent a [[Qantas]] passenger jet to the area with 11 trained SES air observers and a FESA officer on board<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.australia-times.com.au/world/article.php?id=6626 |title=Search underway for missing teen sailor |publisher=Australia Times |date=11 June 2010 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> and three ships are traveling from [[R%C3%A9union]] Island.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37618875/ns/sports-other_sports/ |title=Round-the-world teen sailor feared lost at sea |publisher=MSNBC |date=10 June 2010 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> Sail-World.com reported that the "latest word from Team Abby is that the boat is drifting backwards at around 1 knot. This indicates that no sails are active and that the yacht is not in an upright position." Her last known position was {{coord|-34.885931|74.53125|type:landmark|name=Sunderland's last known position on June 10, 2010}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Three-countries-in-Search-and-Rescue-for-Abby-Sunderland/70615 |title=Three countries in Search and Rescue for Abby Sunderland |publisher=Sail-World.com |date=10 June 2010 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>
On June 10 Sunderland's two manually operated [[Distress_radiobeacon|emergency radio beacons]] were activated and satellite phone contact was lost.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.australia-times.com.au/world/article.php?id=6626 |title=Search underway for missing US teen sailor |publisher=Australia Times |date=11 June 2010 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> A third beacon which triggers automatically if it goes 15 feet underwater was not activated. Sunderland was sailing in high winds and had suffered multiple knockdowns. She was sailing northeast of the [[Kerguelen Islands]], about 2000 miles west of [[Australia]].<ref>sail-world.com, [http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Three-countries-in-Search-and-Rescue-for-Abby-Sunderland/70615 Three countries in search and rescue for Abby Sunderland] 10 June 2010, retrieved 10 June 2010</ref> A rescue effort is under way.<ref>http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/06/teen-sailor-abby-sunderland-focus-of-emergency-rescue-effort.html</ref><ref>http://abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-sunderland-possibly-lost-sea/story?id=10877108</ref> The [[Australian Maritime Safety Authority]] has sent a [[Qantas]] passenger jet to the area with 11 trained SES air observers and a FESA officer on board<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.australia-times.com.au/world/article.php?id=6626 |title=Search underway for missing teen sailor |publisher=Australia Times |date=11 June 2010 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> and three ships are traveling from [[R%C3%A9union]] Island.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37618875/ns/sports-other_sports/ |title=Round-the-world teen sailor feared lost at sea |publisher=MSNBC |date=10 June 2010 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> Her last known position was {{coord|-34.885931|74.53125|type:landmark|name=Sunderland's last known position on June 10, 2010}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Three-countries-in-Search-and-Rescue-for-Abby-Sunderland/70615 |title=Three countries in Search and Rescue for Abby Sunderland |publisher=Sail-World.com |date=10 June 2010 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>


{{Youngest circumnavigator}}
{{Youngest circumnavigator}}

Revision as of 03:16, 11 June 2010

Abby Sunderland
Born (1993-10-19) October 19, 1993 (age 30)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAdventurer
Known forSetting out to be the youngest person to sail around the world solo.

Abigail "Abby" Sunderland (born October 19, 1993) set sail to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.[1] Her brother, Zac Sunderland, was the first to complete such a journey before turning 18.[2] She initially set sail from Marina del Rey, California in her 40-foot boat Wild Eyes on January 23, 2010[3][dead link] but had to stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She restarted her circumnavigation on February 6, 2010, planning to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted leaving from and returning to Cabo San Lucas, but autopilot problems then forced Sunderland to stop at Cape Town for repairs.[4] She is writing a book during the journey that is planned to be published after the journey[5]. On June 10, 2010 while sailing in heavy seas and high winds in the Indian Ocean she activated her two manual emergency EPIRB distress beacons, triggering a search and rescue effort.[6]

Preparation and planning

Sunderland said she has been preparing for her journey since age 13.[1] She has been training ocean sailing together with experienced sailors, especially her father, Laurence Sunderland. He described when he understood she had the determination to do it. "It was a particularly rough day and her boat was rocking from gunnel to gunnel. ... I knew she was freezing cold, tired and hungry, and we'd been at it for, you know, 20 hours at that stage. I said, 'So Abby, are you ready to sail around the world now?' To which she replied, 'Where is my boat?'"[7]

The planned sail route is: Marina del Rey – Cape Horn – Cape of Good Hope – Cape Leeuwin – Marina del Rey in 10 legs, solo and unassisted, in accordance with the definitions set by the International Sailing Federation World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). According to the WSSRC, the Equator must be crossed according to the rules of world circumnavigation, which she will do in the Pacific Ocean as she departs and returns to Cabo San Lucas.

Sail-World reported concerns about the timing of her start: "While ... she will round the Horn in the height of summer when conditions should be the best they can be, her delayed departure ... means that by the time she sails south of Australia, the weather will be approaching Autumn, and the weather will be deteriorating."[8]

Sunderland's boat

History
United States
NameWild Eyes
OperatorAbby Sunderland
RouteCabo San Lucas – Cape Horn – Cape of Good Hope – Cape Leeuwin – Cabo San Lucas
BuilderA.S.A. Yachts PTY, Australia
Completed2001
AcquiredOctober 24, 2009[9]
StatusAt sea
General characteristics
TypeSloop
Tonnage16 (gross), 15 (net)
Displacement7407 lbs (3360 kg)
Length40 ft (12.19 m)
Beam11.21 ft (3.41 m)
Installed powerYanmar (18 hp)
PropulsionSails
Sail planBermuda (Marconi) rig
NotesFormerly BTC Velocity

Sunderland's yacht, Wild Eyes, is a 40-foot (12.19 m) sloop built in 2001 by A.S.A. Yachts PTY, Australia. It was designed by Jutson Yacht, Australia, specifically to be sailed single-handed through the Southern Ocean. As BTC Velocity, the vessel finished second in the Class 3 (Open 40) category of the Around Alone 2002 race.[10] Wild Eyes is constructed of E-glass with Kevlar reinforcement into five watertight compartments with a crash bulkhead and a stern escape hatch.[10] It was bought in Rhode Island by the Sunderland family in October 2009, then sailed by Abby and Zac, with their father Laurence, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for transport to California. Wild Eyes was refit in Marina Del Rey, California with an array of electrical, communication and navigation systems.[10]

Journey

Initial attempt

Sunderland started her solo circumnavigation from Marina del Rey, California on January 23, 2010.[11] On January 30, 2010, eight days into her journey, Sunderland and her shore team determined that her solar panels, wind generators, and diesel fuel were not sufficient to meet the energy needs of her boat. She also had minor electrical problems in her mast wiring that affected her windspeed indicators. She decided to land in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to take on more fuel and batteries, effect repairs, and restart her non-stop circumnavigation attempt.[12] She safely made landfall on February 2, 2010.[13]

Second attempt

First leg

Sunderland started her second attempt from Cabo San Lucas on February 6, 2010, intending to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation departing from and returning to Cabo San Lucas.[14]

On February 19, 2010, at 3:07 PM PST, thirteen days after departing Cabo San Lucas, Sunderland and Wild Eyes completed the first leg of the trip (Cabo San Lucas to the Equator), crossing the Equator into the South Pacific at 0°00′N 120°15′W / 0°N 120.25°W / 0; -120.25 (Sunderland crosses the Equator, February 19, 2010).[15]

Second leg

On February 27, 2010, there was media concern[16] for Sunderland's safety because of the 2010 Chile earthquake. She was then at 15°S 123°W / 15°S 123°W / -15; -123 (Sunderland's position during Chile earthquake, February 27, 2010), some 3,000 km from the quake's epicenter, but the great ocean depth at her location minimized the effect of the resulting tsunami and her team reported that she had not "... experienced anything out of the ordinary."[17]

On March 13, 2010, Sunderland completed the second leg of the trip (Equator to South Pacific Westerlies).[15]

Third leg

On March 21, 2010, Sunderland experienced an incident during which her yacht Wild Eyes' mast went horizontal at approximately 2:00 AM local time, and she just prevented an accidental jibe in bad weather, a potentially dangerous event. There was no damage.[18]

On March 31, 2010, Sunderland rounded Cape Horn—the southernmost point of South America—making her the youngest solo sailor to do so. She experienced rough waves and heavy winds when approaching, but rather little wind the last day before Cape Horn.[19]

Fourth leg

On April 24, 2010, Sunderland announced that she would stop at Cape Town for repairs to her autopilot system. This ended her non-stop attempt; however, she intended to continue the circumnavigation.[20] Sunderland had two separate autopilot systems. Both failed, one after the other. She was able to swap parts between them to keep one of them going, but a leak in the last working one made a repair stop necessary. Sunderland arrived in Cape Town on May 5, 2010.[21]

Fifth to tenth leg

Sunderland departed from Cape Town on Friday May 21, defying the superstition against sailing on a Friday.[22] The autopilot system on her boat was replaced, and she stated "I will stop again if I need to."[23]

Around May 24, there was a potentially serious incident. A line was stuck near the top of the mast, so she couldn't reduce the size of the mainsail. Sunderland tried to climb the mast to sort that out, but she found it to be too dangerous in the near gale conditions and full darkness, so she had to sail throughout the night with too much sail area. It could be fixed the next day in lower wind.[24]

Sunderland plans to return to Cabo San Lucas in July 2010, at an age of around 16 years and 8 months.[25]. After the stops, it is much more likely that the arrival with be in August or possibly September.

Emergency radio beacons activated

On June 10 Sunderland's two manually operated emergency radio beacons were activated and satellite phone contact was lost.[26] A third beacon which triggers automatically if it goes 15 feet underwater was not activated. Sunderland was sailing in high winds and had suffered multiple knockdowns. She was sailing northeast of the Kerguelen Islands, about 2000 miles west of Australia.[27] A rescue effort is under way.[28][29] The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has sent a Qantas passenger jet to the area with 11 trained SES air observers and a FESA officer on board[30] and three ships are traveling from Réunion Island.[31] Her last known position was 34°53′09″S 74°31′53″E / 34.885931°S 74.53125°E / -34.885931; 74.53125 (Sunderland's last known position on June 10, 2010).[32]

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Pete (January 24, 2010). "Abby Sunderland Sets Course on a Record". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  2. ^ Thomas, Pete (July 17, 2009). "Zac Sunderland Completes Solo Sail Around the World". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "16-Year-Old Girl Starts Solo Sail Around Globe". January 24, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010. [dead link]
  4. ^ James, Mike (25 April 2010). "Abby Sunderland's mission to sail solo around the world without stopping is derailed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 April 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Pouring Rain and Fog". April 16 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Search underway for missing US teen sailor". Australia Times. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  7. ^ Too Young? Teen Attempts Solo Sail Around World
  8. ^ Knudsen, Nancy (January 23, 2010). "Jessica Watson Pounded by 70 Knots, Abby Sunderland Sets Off". Sail-World.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  9. ^ Sarabia, Ambrosia (November 11, 2009). "Wild Eyes to Take Abby Sunderland Around the World". The Log: California's Boating & Fishing News. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c "Abby Sunderland's Boat". Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  11. ^ Scheibe, John (January 23, 2010). "Thousand Oaks Girl Leaves on Round-the-World Sail". Ventura County Star. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  12. ^ Knudsen, Nancy (January 31, 2010). "Abby Sunderland Journey Aborted". Sail-World.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  13. ^ Burgess, Kelly (February 2, 2010). "Sailor Abby Sunderland, 16, Heads to Cabo San Lucas for Vessel Repairs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  14. ^ "A Note from Cabo Team Abby". February 6, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Abby's Location and Route". February 19, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  16. ^ Adams, John (February 27, 2010). "16-Year-Old Sailor-Girl Off Coast of Chile". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  17. ^ "Abby & Wild Eyes OK". February 27, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  18. ^ "A Knock in the Night". March 21, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  19. ^ "Abby Sunderland Becomes Youngest Person to Sail Around Cape Horn Alone". March 31, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  20. ^ "News". April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  21. ^ "Well, I Made It into Cape Town Today". May 5, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  22. ^ "Cape Town - Final Days". Retrieved 2010 May 20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ "Abby Sunderland sets sail from Cape Town". Retrieved 2010 May 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. ^ Tale from the Sea
  25. ^ Castro, Tony (May 2, 2010). "South Africa Stop Just a Footnote as Abby Sunderland Can Still Sail into Record Books". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved May 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Search underway for missing US teen sailor". Australia Times. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  27. ^ sail-world.com, Three countries in search and rescue for Abby Sunderland 10 June 2010, retrieved 10 June 2010
  28. ^ http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/06/teen-sailor-abby-sunderland-focus-of-emergency-rescue-effort.html
  29. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-sunderland-possibly-lost-sea/story?id=10877108
  30. ^ "Search underway for missing teen sailor". Australia Times. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  31. ^ "Round-the-world teen sailor feared lost at sea". MSNBC. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  32. ^ "Three countries in Search and Rescue for Abby Sunderland". Sail-World.com. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
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