Last March I wrote about Abby Sunderland the 16-year old girl from my hometown of Thousand Oaks, California. Abby is attempting to sail solo around the world on a sailboat.
This morning (California time) news broke out that Abby may be in trouble as she sailed East on the Indian Ocean from the tip of the African continent to Australia. During the past two days Abby and her boat, the Wild Eyes, have encountered rough seas, with 20 – 25 feet (6.1 to 7.60 meters) high waves and gale force winds of up to 60 knots per hour (69 miles per hour or 111 kilometers per hour).
This morning authorities in Australia received transmissions from two emergency beacons on Abby’s boat. Efforts to contact Abby by satellite phone have failed. The closest land to Abby's boat was Reunion Island, which is east of Madagascar. The nearest ship was 400 miles away. Rescuers were trying to contact the ship.
Zac Sunderland, Abby’s brother, told a Los Angeles radio station in Los Angeles that Abby’s support crew was "still trying to figure out the rescue situation."
"There's two boats headed out to her position." Zach said. "One of them is an estimated 40 hours, the other is 48. So right now we're just trying to figure out if there's any way faster. She is in the middle of nowhere pretty much, in the Southern Indian Ocean, there's nothing closer.”
French, Australian and American ships have been dispatched to join the search and rescue efforts.
Experts familiar with the area where Abby was last known to be, have commented that conditions can quickly become perilous for any sailor, let alone a 16-year old girl, exposed to the elements in that part of the world.
"We've got to get a plane out there quick," said family spokesperson Christian Pinkston, adding that the teen's family in Thousand Oaks was asking for prayers for her safety.
I ask the readers of this blog to please pray for Abby’s safe return.
Thank you.
To read more about Abby’s journey, please go here:
Abby’s blog
Or here:
Abby Sunderland
Click here to see Abby's last known location:
Abby’s location
Breaking News
Update: Spokesman says searchers have contacted teen solo sailor Abby Sunderland and she is alive and well in the Indian Ocean.
Your prayers have been answered. Thank you!
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