Abby Sunderland starts her attempt on the RTW, Solo, Non-stop.

[lenseman]

According to the Los Angeles radio station KTLA, the 16 year old American girl Abby Sunderland, has set sail within the past hour on her attempt at the round-the-world unassisted passage. She hopes to snatch the record from Jessica Watson, the young Australian girl who hopes to become the holder of the record (Youngest Solo RTW, Non-Stop) on her return to Sydney later this year.

No breaking news on the usual circuits but her web site, where you can follow her progress is listed below:

http://www.abbysunderland.com/

I wish her safe passage and bon voyage.

 

[lenseman]

First News on the wires:

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (CNS) -- Sixteen year old sailor Abby Sunderland was escorted out to sea Saturday by an entourage of boats as she sets sail for a record.

Abby Sunderlund 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."

Sunderland could become the youngest person to ever complete such a voyage.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7235692

NNNN

 

[Ubergeekian]

First News on the wires:

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (CNS) -- Sixteen year old sailor Abby Sunderland was escorted out to sea Saturday by an entourage of boats as she sets sail for a record. ...
Sunderland could become the youngest person to ever complete such a voyage.

This is going to end badly, you know. Not this particular trip, but the succession of ever-younger people going for the record. Eventually two people are going to be the heartbroken parents of the youngest person to die trying it, instead of the proud parents of the youngest person to manage it.

 

[dylanwinter]

what are they thinking

these children should be living lives of children - not wasting it alone and frightened at sea

this is one crazy world

Dylan

 

[Babylon]

these children should be living lives of children - not wasting it alone and frightened at sea

this is one crazy world

Dylan

Agree, but then we have the phenomena of thirty-somethings still living with their parents and sixty-year old women having babies.

And don't forget that in past centuries very young boys went to sea in warships; although it is worth adding that they did so as part of crews made up of very experienced adults acting not only as decision-makers and instructors, but also as mentors.

Although I don't support this 'youngest person' mania, I'd like to wish her safe passage.

 

[webcraft]

these children should be living lives of children - not wasting it alone and frightened at sea

this is one crazy world

Dylan

Jessica Watson does not appear to be frightened or indeed particularly alone, with over 400 comments posted on every blog entry. She says she is having the time of her life and I think she would find your remark terribly patronising.

16 year old people are not children, and in any event childhood was just a Victorian invention. Nelson was 12 when he first went to sea.

- W

 

[Babylon]

16 year old people are not children, and in any event childhood was just a Victorian invention. Nelson was 12 when he first went to sea.

Webcraft

Nelson did not go to sea alone at the age of 12. As alluded to in my post above, you'll know that these boys entered a service to begin a long training as eventual officers, surrounded by and part of a team of hundreds of experienced and highly-skilled adults. At no stage in their entire careers did Nelson or any of his contemporaries go 'solo.'

BTW, do you have children? At what point do you think young people become sufficiently mature to be given responsibility over their entire lives? At what age does the brain stop physically developing? Are some young people more mature than others, and why?

I also think its a little trite to state that 'childhood was just a Victorian invention' - of course it was perfectly acceptable to send small boys up chimneys and down mines until the silly old sentimental Victorians invented 'childhood'.

I'm all for giving young people who are both ready and mature their opportunities. I'm just not interested in the hype or the ambition to 'be the youngest'.

Cue a long debate, as per Jessica Watson.

Babs

 

[KristiferColumbus]

According to the Los Angeles radio station KTLA, the 16 year old American girl Abby Sunderland, has set sail within the past hour on her attempt at the round-the-world unassisted passage. She hopes to snatch the record from Jessica Watson, the young Australian girl who hopes to become the holder of the record (Youngest Solo RTW, Non-Stop) on her return to Sydney later this year.

No breaking news on the usual circuits but her web site, where you can follow her progress is listed below:

http://www.abbysunderland.com/

I wish her safe passage and bon voyage.

This is all getting a bit sickening,when are the parents going to grow up?

 

[webcraft]

BTW, do you have children? At what point do you think young people become sufficiently mature to be given responsibility over their entire lives? At what age does the brain stop physically developing? Are some young people more mature than others, and why?

Yes, I do.

Neither of them were IMO mature enough to go to sea on their own at 16, and I think they would both agree with that - but then they are both boys whereas the current crop of solo adventurers appear to be female, and girls mature a lot quicker.

Not sure about the brain maturing argument. Binge drinking and drug abuse while your brain is still developing is widely regarded as a bad thing, but I have never heard any suggestion that solo sailing is bad for a developing brain. I think it might be quite good for them.

As for Nelson not being alone - while there were others physically present on the ship he was in many ways more alone than Jessica Watson, who is in daily internet contact with hundreds of wellwishers of her own generation. I suggest you read her blog and watch the videos she has made - they are not the outpourings of a frightened lonely child.

There is (fortunately IMO) nothing anyone can do to prevent people aged 16 from taking to the seas provided it is within the law. Under 16 in most Western countries they could be prevented if that is the consensus. The 'youngest round' record is therefore self-limiting - the record can never be less than sixteen years and four or five months, so I imagine that this particular record will end with these two contenders - assuming one or both of them finish the course.

- W

 

[TheCrimsonVicar]

Jessica is taking a much shorter route, circling Antartica is hardly circumnavigation whereas Abby's route is much more genuine; she has to cross the Equator twice (Jessica doesn't even sail close to the Equator).
So, assuming both succeed, Abby should be considered the genuine record holder.

 

[lenseman]

Jessica is taking a much shorter route, circling Antartica is hardly circumnavigation whereas Abby's route is much more genuine; she has to cross the Equator twice (Jessica doesn't even sail close to the Equator).
So, assuming both succeed, Abby should be considered the genuine record holder.

I am not sure of the differences in distance travelled by either girls in their various attempts but if you have been following the Australian challenge, you might have noticed that Jessica Watson has already crossed the equator TWICE during this voyage, first on 18 November and then on the 23 November 2009.

See:

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/the-voyage

I won't argue the rights and wrongs of any attempt but I still wish them well and a safe passage to both girls as they cross the southern oceans.

 

[TheCrimsonVicar]

Jessica Watson has already crossed the equator

Quite right. I hadn't studied her route and assumed it was a simple circle around Antartica, not realising that she had to make a northerly diversion so as she could qualify as a circumnavigation with an equator crossing. Sorry Jess.
Nonetheless Abby's start point must indicate that (all things being equal) she will have sailed much further than Jess by the time she returns and, if either has a crown to wear it should be Abby.

 

[Blue5]

This is going to end badly, you know. Not this particular trip, but the succession of ever-younger people going for the record. Eventually two people are going to be the heartbroken parents of the youngest person to die trying it, instead of the proud parents of the youngest person to manage it.

While we all hope they will return safely, I have to agree with you, do you think the 24/7 coms contact convinces some people they can virtually sail the boat for them thereby minimising the risk,

I find it difficult to equate that a 16 year old can have gained enough experience, do they need it ? is experience overhyped? What do others think?

 

[webcraft]

While we all hope they will return safely, I have to agree with you, do you think the 24/7 coms contact convinces some people they can virtually sail the boat for them thereby minimising the risk,

I find it difficult to equate that a 16 year old can have gained enough experience, do they need it ? is experience overhyped? What do others think?

Both girls have been around yachts most of their lives and have a lot more experience and miles under their belts than the majority of people who post on here.

Jessica has just suffered four knockdowns in winds that had reached 65 knots before the winds instrumenets were carried away. One knockdown appears to have been a complete inversion, and it set one of her EPIRBs off; however, she managed to call in a few minutes later to quell the rising panic back in Oz. She is now getting on tidying up the mess - it looks as thugh there is no severe damage to any vital systems and she will be able to carry on.

She may not have had a lot of Southern Ocean experience when she set off but I would say she has a fair bit now!

- W

 

[fergie_mac66]

these children should be living lives of children - not wasting it alone and frightened at sea

this is one crazy world

Dylan

could be worse they could be here in sunny England one of 1000000 young people unemployed.Half of whom will probable not get a decent job for years Or to put it another way 5000000 of all ages with no job !.
Me a cynic nahhhhh.

If they complete ,will probably get jobs and a good future !

 

[Blue5]

could be worse they could be here in sunny England one of 1000000 young people unemployed.Half of whom will probable not get a decent job for years Or to put it another way 5000000 of all ages with no job !.
Me a cynic nahhhhh.

If they complete ,will probably get jobs and a good future !

But do you think the conversation goes


"Dad I want to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world"


OR

"Son/Daughter I have this great plan that could make you a star, minimal risk as I will be at the other end of the phone"

 

[fergie_mac66]

But do you think the conversation goes


"Dad I want to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world"


OR

"Son/Daughter I have this great plan that could make you a star, minimal risk as I will be at the other end of the phone"

there the rub if option one and they are good enough hard enough then why not

if option 2 then no

 

[fishermantwo]

While we all hope they will return safely, I have to agree with you, do you think the 24/7 coms contact convinces some people they can virtually sail the boat for them thereby minimising the risk,

I find it difficult to equate that a 16 year old can have gained enough experience, do they need it ? is experience overhyped? What do others think?

There is a particularly good video available called "Deepwater" about the first singlehanded solo around the world race. While it concentrates on Donald Crowhurst there is plenty on the other competitors. Moitessier and Robin Knox Johnston were very experienced but Chay Blyth was learning to sail as he headed for the start line. The video is worth buying just to see his interview!

The video shows exactly how far we have come since !968 in yachting terms.

 

[earlybird]

[QUOTE

Jessica has just suffered four knockdowns in winds that had reached 65 knots before the winds instrumenets were carried away. One knockdown appears to have been a complete inversion, and it set one of her EPIRBs off; however, she managed to call in a few minutes later to quell the rising panic back in Oz. She is now getting on tidying up the mess - it looks as thugh there is no severe damage to any vital systems and she will be able to carry on.

- W[/QUOTE]

I was reading Jessica's blog describing her 180 deg. knockdown just before I read this thread. She's obviously got a good, strong boat, to survive with relatively minor damage; I would say that of course!, and it's amazing how well she copes.
Re Abby Sunderland, how well would her water ballasted Open 40 cope with a knockdown, would the large rig remain intact. I wonder?

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Good luck to Abby.

I've got so much respect for these young people (I'm including Perham & Jessica here) taking part in their epic adventures.

People who are jealous having a pop at them? The same types of people using exactly the same arguments as people did against Chichester, Alec Rose and Knox-Johnston.

When you think of all the dangerous things you can do at 16, sailing round the world doesn't seem outstandingly dangerous.