Teen sailor is plucked from the cruel sea
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2010, Sunday
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A French fishing vessel rescued a California teenager from her crippled sailboat in the turbulent southern Indian Ocean yesterday, bringing relief to her family but ending her around-the-world sailing effort.
Laurence Sunderland, the father of 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, told reporters outside his home that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had contacted him to confirm the rescue more than 3,200 kilometers from the western Australia coast. Her boat abandoned, she'll spend at least a week on a series of boats headed for Reunion Island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
"She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands," he said. "She was in good spirits. She talked to her mother."
"It was incredible to hear her and to hear she was still in good spirits," Mary Anne Sunderland said later in a television interview.
Sunderland had been stranded in heavy seas since Thursday, when she set off a distress signal after the mast collapsed, knocking out her satellite communications. The elder Sunderland said the family was not going to elaborate on the problems that led to the emergency.
The Australian group said the French ship Ile De La Reunion brought Sunderland on board from her stricken craft yesterday afternoon at the site.
French authorities called it a "delicate operation" and at one point the fishing boat's captain fell into the ocean. "He was fished out in difficult conditions" and is in good health, said a statement from the French territory of Reunion Island. Laurence Sunderland said the crew used its dinghy in the transfer.
He said her boat will now likely be sunk because of the difficulty towing it a great distance.
Sunderland will leave the French fishing boat in about two days to board a maritime patrol boat that will take her to Reunion Island, according to a statement from the office of the French Indian Ocean island's top official. The transfer will take place off the Kerguelen Islands.
The island's Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue said Sunderland likely would not arrive for at least a week.
Despite a lag in getting to see her, Laurence Sunderland said the family was "just ecstatic that she is alive and well and survived the ordeal."
Sunderland set out from Los Angeles County's Marina del Rey on January 23, trying to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo and nonstop.
Soon after starting her trip, the teenager ran into equipment problems and had to stop for repairs.
She gave up the goal of setting the record in April, but continued, hoping to complete the journey.
Zac Sunderland, her brother, held the record for a little more than a month last year until Briton Mike Perham completed his journey. The record changed hands again last month, when 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson completed her around-the-world voyage.
Outside the family home yesterday there was a large, hand-painted sign that read: "Thank God Abby's alive."
Laurence Sunderland, the father of 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, told reporters outside his home that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had contacted him to confirm the rescue more than 3,200 kilometers from the western Australia coast. Her boat abandoned, she'll spend at least a week on a series of boats headed for Reunion Island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
"She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands," he said. "She was in good spirits. She talked to her mother."
"It was incredible to hear her and to hear she was still in good spirits," Mary Anne Sunderland said later in a television interview.
Sunderland had been stranded in heavy seas since Thursday, when she set off a distress signal after the mast collapsed, knocking out her satellite communications. The elder Sunderland said the family was not going to elaborate on the problems that led to the emergency.
The Australian group said the French ship Ile De La Reunion brought Sunderland on board from her stricken craft yesterday afternoon at the site.
French authorities called it a "delicate operation" and at one point the fishing boat's captain fell into the ocean. "He was fished out in difficult conditions" and is in good health, said a statement from the French territory of Reunion Island. Laurence Sunderland said the crew used its dinghy in the transfer.
He said her boat will now likely be sunk because of the difficulty towing it a great distance.
Sunderland will leave the French fishing boat in about two days to board a maritime patrol boat that will take her to Reunion Island, according to a statement from the office of the French Indian Ocean island's top official. The transfer will take place off the Kerguelen Islands.
The island's Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue said Sunderland likely would not arrive for at least a week.
Despite a lag in getting to see her, Laurence Sunderland said the family was "just ecstatic that she is alive and well and survived the ordeal."
Sunderland set out from Los Angeles County's Marina del Rey on January 23, trying to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo and nonstop.
Soon after starting her trip, the teenager ran into equipment problems and had to stop for repairs.
She gave up the goal of setting the record in April, but continued, hoping to complete the journey.
Zac Sunderland, her brother, held the record for a little more than a month last year until Briton Mike Perham completed his journey. The record changed hands again last month, when 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson completed her around-the-world voyage.
Outside the family home yesterday there was a large, hand-painted sign that read: "Thank God Abby's alive."
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