Thinking Positive Thoughts for A Rad Girl

UPDATE!  

Abby has been spotted safe on her boat - mast is broken but she is fine!!!

You may remember Abby Sunderland from my past blog posts - she is the rad 16 yr old girl who (like her brother Zac did at age 16) is sailing around the world by herself. She is a girl I totally admire and one who is showing the world what cool stuff girls can do (at any age).

I was really upset to hear today that Abby has activated 2 different distress beacons after being hit by 25 ft seas and losing contact in the Indian Ocean.

The nearest land is 400 miles from where they think she is and the closest boat is 40 hrs away. Last I heard while writing this post is that a Quantas Airbus is trying to fly out to her to see if they can get low enough to contact her in some way and see if she is OK.

No one is sure if she is still on her 40ft boat Wild Eyes and is injured, or it has perhaps sunk and she is in the lifeboat, or the mast has broken and the boat is failing. According to her mom's blog posts today Abby knows the beacons are only to be activated in case of complete emergency NOT just if radio or communication has been lost...

Sounds like there should be more info by 10-11 PM PST tonight so I will update if I hear anything.



These pics below are some that my husband Ian took when Abby left Marina del Rey a few months ago on her voyage.

all photos by Ian Logan

Abby Sails Away

I wasn't able to see Abby Sunderland off on Saturday like I had planned (I have been watching her blog and been waiting for this day) as I had a photo shoot in Encinitas. But my husband Ian was nice enough to go down to Marina del Rey and take a lot of great shots for me - I almost felt like I was there. He was able to get a ride on someone's boat so he could get these shots of her going through the harbor and out to sea.

In case you don't know about Abby... She is 16. She is sailing around the world by herself. Non Stop. In a 40 ft boot called Wild Eyes. She will be the youngest person (male or female) to accomplish this. Abby is RAD!

Abby at her press conference before leaving

Abby and her brother Zac heading down the dock to her boat

 

 

 The media was everywhere - its a big and positive story

 fire boats giving Abby a water salute send off

 

 

Abby heading out to sea

all photos:  Ian Logan©

Wild Eyes and Abby

Abby Sunderland is one cool girl. At 16 years old she is getting ready to sail around the world, leaving Marina del Rey, Ca. later this month. Her brother Zac made this voyage last year and my husband and I were there to cheer him on as he came into the marina - what a cool sight that was.

The difference with Abby is (besides being female of course) is that she is younger than Zac was when he left on his solo trip, and she plans on doing the global trip with NO STOPS. Yep, 5 months at sea (the projected time frame)  and NO STOPS. All food, water purification, etc. will be on board. If Abby has any trouble at sea with any equipment, sails, masts, etc - she will have to fix it herself.

This is one cool and gutsy girl.

 

 

 

Abby's boat is called Wild Eyes.

Her sponsor is Shoe City.

These awesome pics were taken by Lisa Gizara who is Abby Sunderlands Photographer

Please click on Lisa name above to see more of her work and on Abby's name to see more photos and read more about her trip.

 ©2010 GizaraArts.com and ©AbbySunderland.Org