But Mom, he got to sail around the world!

[Piotr Rasputin]

From reading the family's BLOG! ... http://soloround.blogspot.com/ ... it sounds like the problems affecting her could have hit the most-experienced solo sailor on the planet - engine problems combined with 20-25 foot seas.

The blog is chilling to read. June 9, it's Abby Sunderland reporting, all alone and surrounded by the sea. The next day, it's her parents reporting with hope all of the reasons she could still be alive.

Here's Simers from last december:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/15/sports/la-sp-simers15-2009dec15

And reader response:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/20/sports/la-sp-simers20-2009dec20

 

[BTExpress]

BT, I get what you saying but this kid is 16. Is pushing the envelope is worth the risk of death at this age? Do you think when she is drowing she the adrenaline rush was worth it?

If it wasn't at "this" age, then it would have been two years later.

Impossible to quantify death at one age being any more "acceptable" than the other. Nor is it possible to say any adrenaline rush is "worth" dying over.

But these risks were well known beforehand and deemed acceptable by the people who would be affected. 100 years ago a lifelong captain hit an iceberg despite multiple warnings and killed 2,000 people. THAT is negligence.

One in 4 test pilots during the early days of the space age died. Was leaving their child without a father worth the adrenaline rush their jobs entailed? Impossible to answer. But those jobs were WHO THEY WERE. Likewise, it's who the Sunderland family is.

 

[poindexter]

BT, I get what you saying but this kid is 16. Is pushing the envelope is worth the risk of death at this age? Do you think when she is drowing she the adrenaline rush was worth it?

If it wasn't at "this" age, then it would have been two years later.

Impossible to quantify death at one age being any more "acceptable" than the other. Nor is it possible to say any adrenaline rush is "worth" dying over.

But these risks were well known beforehand and deemed acceptable by the people who would be affected. 100 years ago a lifelong captain hit an iceberg despite multiple warnings and killed 2,000 people. THAT is negligence.

One in 4 test pilots during the early days of the space age died. Was leaving their child without a father worth the adrenaline rush their jobs entailed? Impossible to answer. But those jobs were WHO THEY WERE. Likewise, it's who the Sunderland family is.

Yeah, it could be that.

Or, it could be that they are reckless, publicity-seeking, glory hound parents.

The 17 year-old son who went around the world last year at one point had his gun out because he was approached by pirates. Could the parents have counted their blessings that their son made it home alive, and stop there? No, because this family is living life TO THE EXTREME!!

An incredibly casual disregard for human life.

 

[poindexter]

A quote from the dad, before the trip:
"I have no doubt in my mind that this boat is going to get totally knocked around out there,"

Well, that's just awesome, Thrillseeker Dad.

 

[MileHigh]

Nearest ship to check in on her is 40 hours away. Planes cannot start searching until 6 p.m. PDT

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/10/reports-that-abby-sunderland-may-be-lost-at-sea/

 

[poindexter]

The Sunderlands have also contacted Rep. Elton Gallegly for assistance. His office said Gallegly has been talking with the State Department, Department of Defense and Coast Guard requesting assistance to find Abby.

Don't worry about any of the costs. The US is brimming with money. Because, the most important thing is, she needs to have her adrenaline rush.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

A quote from the dad, before the trip:
"I have no doubt in my mind that this boat is going to get totally knocked around out there,"

Well, that's just awesome, Thrillseeker Dad.

If he was a Thrillseeker Dad, he'd be alongside his kids doing it. Instead, he's supporting what they want to do.

 

[mb]

And by all means, our children should be allowed to do EXACTLY what they want to do.

 

[poindexter]

A quote from the dad, before the trip:
"I have no doubt in my mind that this boat is going to get totally knocked around out there,"

Well, that's just awesome, Thrillseeker Dad.

If he was a Thrillseeker Dad, he'd be alongside his kids doing it. Instead, he's supporting what they want to do.

Well, bully for him. My son, when he was 12, wanted to jump off the house onto the trampoline. Its what he wanted to do. Luckily, there were saner heads in the house.

Considering he's begging for assistance from the State Department, DoD and the Coast Guard, it doesn't look like he was able to provide enough support for what they wanted to do.

 

[BTExpress]

Could the parents have counted their blessings that their son made it home alive, and stop there?

They could have.

And when the daughter was 18 she would have went anyway and encountered the same risks she encountered at 16.

The two-year window is really all there is to debate, because the daughter wasn't going to be stopped . . . only possibly delayed.

 

[mb]

So at 18 she'd have been able to buy her own ultra-souped up boat for the trip? And afford all the provisions she'd need? Yeah, I don't think so, either.

 

[poindexter]

So at 18 she'd have been able to buy her own ultra-souped up boat for the trip? And afford all the provisions she'd need? Yeah, I don't think so, either.

lol - really

Nothing was going to stop her, huh? She was just going to take all her savings from her Jamba Juice job, and get the boat and everything else for the year long trip. Right.

I swear, some people live in dreamland.