Abby Sunderland

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William_H

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You may be aware from news that Abby Sunderland in attempting to be the youngest to circumnavigate single handed without stopping has been reported in trouble. Reportedly 3600Kms SSW of Perth.
A Qantas A330 has departed Perth about 1 hr ago to search for her. French authorities from LaReunion have diverted fishing boats to the site. Expected to arrive in 30 hrs or so.
There are lonelier places on the oceans (but not much worse) to get into trouble. From an interview her father was talking to her on Iridium about 30 mins before the beacon was activated. She was at that stage fairly happy having survived a night of fierce winds to 60kts and 25ft seas but it was calmer down to 35knots when he spoke to her. Interesting that he checked the number of the EPIRB to see if it was the auto activated one. It wasn't it was the manual activated one. Later a personal EPIRB was also picked up. her father speculated that keel may have gone as the locations indicated a large drift.
Abby turned 16 Oct 2009 and departed from California but had to stop in S Africa for Auto pilot repairs.
Australians have a special interest after Jessica Watson returned successfully from circumnavigation in May. Watching for news olewill
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/10/abby-sunderland-sailor-yachtswoman-teen-sea-search
 
It sounds like she has the right equipment and her boat remains afloat so hopefully it's just for the boats to reach her in time. Let's hope that everything works out OK for her.

From her blog, Wild Eyes was designed for travel in the Southern Ocean and is equipped with 5 air-tight bulkheads to keep her buoyant in the event of major hull damage. Is that an option on many boats?

Also, impressive to see an A330 being sent out. I have no issue with cost as she is obviously well prepared and the priority is to find her safely. But, what makes them go that far? Is it law, insurance, goodwill or... simply the fact that a human life is at risk and nothing else can reach that far?

Again, hope all works out OK!
 
What an awful situation for a 16year-old to find herself in. I know the Dad is only guessing, and keels can fail from time to time, but what design and construction standards have been used if it has failed in open water?

BBC have just announced that "the family hope a rescue can be mounted by air." That sounds unlikely to me, they may spot the boat & might be able to drop a liferaft in the vicinity, but I can't see any "rescue" being practical from a long range aircraft in rough water.
 
Update: Abbey is fine, boats should reach her in 24 hours

Cut and paste from blog...

We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!

We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know.
 
Found

Yes indeed she has been found as reported. The plane is due back home in the next few minutes something over 4 hrs to get there 2 hours searching and 4 hrs home again.11 spotters on board Cost I
am not sure but in the region of 30 to 60k pounds I would imagine. I think that makes it something like 12 to 16 hrs from activating an EPIRB to having a plane overhead.
Under international agreement Australia has about half the Indian Ocean and a good slice of the Pacific and much of the Southern Ocean as search and rescue responsibility. Much of the aerial search and rescue is left to the airforce however they tend to rely on Hercules aircraft so much slower than jets. I guess one life is regarded as important as 400. The obligation is of course set up for commercial shipping and airlines.
It looks like she will be picked up by a fishing boat. A pity, she would not have been the first to jury rig from out there and sail down wind to Fremantle or Albany. I guess that shows the limitations of her lack of experience or skills or am I being too harsh? olewill
 
Searush said:
What an awful situation for a 16year-old to find herself in. I know the Dad is only guessing, and keels can fail from time to time, but what design and construction standards have been used if it has failed in open water?

BBC have just announced that "the family hope a rescue can be mounted by air." That sounds unlikely to me, they may spot the boat & might be able to drop a liferaft in the vicinity, but I can't see any "rescue" being practical from a long range aircraft in rough water.
Click to expand...

She'd already failed the circumnavigation - she stopped in Cape Town. Her dad persuaded her to carry on.
 
I questioned the jury rig in another thread ...
if she had enough strength & experience then it should be possible ...
perhaps the weather/conditions make it too dangerous to achieve right now. In anycase if it was me out there I would probably be down below too!

Looking at what has happened so far:
The blog states that Satelite phone coverage was dodgy ..
Shore side would probably be concerned if she didn't (or couldn't) get in touch.
She had a major failure - we don't know what other damage there is - mast could've punctured the hull?
Firing the manual EPIRB but not the water triggered one indicates that she is alive - but requires assistance.

Brave girl ... but perhaps not the most sensible of places to be considering ....
 
fireball said:
Firing the manual EPIRB but not the water triggered one indicates that she is alive - but requires assistance.
Click to expand...

She has spoken to an overflying Qantas plane on VHF - definitely alive, lots of food, working heater - awaiting rescue.
 
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