Abby Sunderland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abby Sunderland
|
|
|---|---|
Abby Sunderland at the Houston Boat Show in Kemah, Texas, U.S. on April 14, 2011
|
|
| Born |
Abigail Jillian Sunderland
October 19, 1993 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Education | Trinity Pacific Christian School |
| Known for |
|
| Parents |
|
Abigail Jillian Sunderland (born October 19, 1993), known as Abby, is an American sailor. In 2010, she tried to become the youngest person to sail alone around the world.
Contents
Abby's Early Life and Family
Abby grew up with seven brothers and sisters. Her family loved sailing, and she spent a lot of time on the water. Her older brother, Zac Sunderland, was the first person under 18 to sail all the way around the world by himself. Abby and her siblings were homeschooled.
Abby's Big Sailing Adventure
Abby had dreamed of sailing around the world since she was 13. Her dad, Laurence Sunderland, knew she was serious about it. He remembered a very rough day at sea when he asked her if she was still ready. Abby replied, "Where is my boat?" This showed how determined she was. Some people worried about how dangerous the trip would be for someone so young.
Her boat, Wild Eyes, was a 40-foot (12-meter) sloop. It was built in Australia in 2001. The boat was designed to sail alone through tough waters like the Southern Ocean. Wild Eyes was made of strong fiberglass with extra protection. It had five sections that could stay watertight even if one filled with water. Abby's family bought the boat in 2009 and added lots of modern equipment.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Operator | Abby Sunderland |
| Route | Cabo San Lucas – Cape Horn – Cape of Good Hope – Indian Ocean |
| Builder | A.S.A. Yachts PTY, Australia |
| Completed | 2001 |
| Acquired | October 24, 2009 |
| Out of service | June 12, 2010 |
| Status |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop |
| Tonnage | 16 (gross), 15 (net) |
| Displacement | 7407 lbs (3360 kg) |
| Length | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Beam | 11.21 ft (3.42 m) |
| Installed power | Yanmar (18 hp) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Bermuda (Marconi) rig |
| Notes | Formerly BTC Velocity |
First Try: A Quick Stop
Abby started her journey from Marina del Rey, California, on January 23, 2010. Her team didn't have enough time for a long test sail. They planned for her to stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, if needed. After a few days, it was clear her solar panels and wind turbines weren't making enough power. She needed to use her diesel engine more than expected. There were also problems with her mast wiring, which affected her wind speed readings. Abby stopped in Cabo San Lucas on February 2, 2010. She got more fuel and batteries, made repairs, and got ready to try again.
Second Try: Around the World!
Abby began her second attempt from Cabo San Lucas on February 6, 2010. She planned to sail alone, without stopping, all the way around the world. On February 19, 2010, she crossed the equator into the South Pacific.
On February 27, 2010, a big earthquake hit Chile. People worried about Abby's safety. She was far away from the earthquake, about 1,860 miles (2,990 km) from its center. The deep ocean at her location helped lessen the effect of any tsunami. Her team reported that she was fine and hadn't noticed anything unusual.
On March 21, 2010, while sleeping, her boat was hit by a big wave. It caused a "knockdown," where the boat leans far over. She almost had an accidental "jibe," which is when the sail swings across the boat quickly. On March 31, 2010, Abby sailed around Cape Horn. This is the southernmost tip of South America and a very dangerous place for sailors. This made her the youngest solo sailor to ever do it! She faced rough seas and strong winds as she approached the Cape.
On April 24, 2010, Abby announced she would stop in Cape Town, South Africa. She needed to fix her autopilot system. This meant her non-stop attempt was over, but she still planned to finish the trip. Both of her autopilot systems had failed. She managed to use parts from one to keep the other working for a while. But a leak made the stop necessary. She arrived in Cape Town on May 5, 2010.
Abby left Cape Town on Friday, May 21, 2010. Some sailors avoid starting a trip on a Friday due to old beliefs. But Abby wasn't worried, saying, "I will stop again if I need to." At this point, it looked like she would reach Cabo San Lucas in August or September. Around May 24, 2010, a rope got stuck near the top of her mast. Abby tried to climb it but it was too dangerous in the strong winds and darkness. She had to sail slowly through the night.
Trouble in the Indian Ocean
On the morning of June 10, 2010, Abby was sailing in the remote Indian Ocean. She was northeast of the Kerguelen Islands, about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) west of Australia. She was in high winds and her boat had been knocked down several times. Satellite phone contact was lost. About an hour later, her two emergency radio beacons turned on. These beacons send out a distress signal. A third beacon, which turns on automatically if it goes 15 feet (4.6 meters) underwater, did not activate. The closest known ship was about 400 miles (640 km) away.
The next morning, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority sent a large search plane. It had 11 trained observers on board. The plane had to fly a very long distance, about 4,700 miles (7,600 km) round trip from Perth, Australia. This was almost the limit of its range. The plane found Abby's boat about 10 minutes after reaching the search area. They made a short radio call with Abby. She said she had righted the boat and was not hurt. People had worried her boat had lost its keel and flipped over. But the boat was upright, though its mast was broken. The broken mast was dragging in the ocean, making satellite phone calls impossible. Abby's mother said the pilot thought the boat had been "rolled by a rogue wave." Abby's father announced that her attempt to sail around the world was over.
The area where Abby's boat was drifting is very remote. Not many ships travel there. The Australian rescue team worked to get three ships to the scene. Abby was rescued by a French fishing boat called Ile de la Réunion late on June 12, 2010. A private jet flew overhead to help with the rescue. It relayed messages between Abby and the fishing boat. The fishing boat's crew launched a small boat to bring Abby from her damaged yacht. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority stated that Abby was "safe and in good health." During the rescue, which happened in rough seas, the captain of the French fishing boat fell into the water. He had to be pulled out in difficult conditions.
Abby's father told reporters that she got off her boat with only the clothes she was wearing. Aboard the Ile de la Réunion, Abby wrote that "one long wave" had caused her boat, Wild Eyes, to lose its mast. The boat was left behind in the ocean. The Ile de la Reunion took Abby to the Kerguelen Islands. From there, she boarded a French patrol boat, the Osiris, for an 8-day trip to Reunion Island.
Who Paid for the Rescue?
Australian and French taxpayers helped pay for Abby's rescue. By law, she or her family could not be charged for the costs. Reports estimated the rescue cost between A$200,000 and A$300,000 (about £116,000). Some people criticized her team for not helping with the rescue costs. However, international rules say that any ship near a distress call must help for free.
After her rescue, Abby said she hoped to sail around the world again someday. As of early 2023, she has not done so.
Abby's Story: Books and Films
After Abby's rescue, her father signed a deal for a TV show about their family. The show was called Adventures in Sunderland. However, the family later said that the show was never sold and no TV show or documentary was made.
Abby's father did produce and direct a documentary film about her journey. It was called Wild Eyes: The Abby Sunderland Story and came out on September 8, 2011.
Abby also wrote a book about her experience. It was released on April 12, 2011. The book is called Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas. During her book tours, she shared that she was taking flying lessons. She hoped to fly around the world one day.
Abby's Life Today
Abby Sunderland is married to Justin T. Sims, who is a US Navy sailor. In 2018, her father shared that she was living in Alabama and had three children, with another on the way.
Wild Eyes Found Again!
In 2018, an overturned boat was seen off the coast of Kangaroo Island in Australia. It was identified as Wild Eyes, Abby's old boat. Pictures showed that it had lost its keel. An Australian official said the boat would not be saved unless it became a danger to other ships or washed ashore.
See Also
- Circumnavigation
- List of youth solo sailing circumnavigations
Images for kids
-
Abby Sunderland at the Houston Boat Show in Kemah, Texas, U.S. on April 14, 2011
