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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 11, 2010 - 01:36am PT
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hey there all, say, just saw this, too...
prayers for her...
all i had to think, when i heard about this, was this:
it would have made a nicer father-daughter project, instead, but every family has their own ways to do things...
all one can do then,as to that, is pray, while they go through this
very hard time...
:(
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Jongy
Big Wall climber
Southern California
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Jun 11, 2010 - 01:41am PT
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hoping for an epic tale form the young lady for sure.
this isn't meant to be a bash on the family or her but....
at what point is too young? I mean to keep breaking this record you can only go down in age.
she's 16. Next year the girl will be 15.... 10 years from now the girl will be 12. Obviously this is a stupid jump but will one day some family send in infant out to sea and hope to see it again after it rounds the world?
at what point does it just become a crazy suicide journey?
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:23am PT
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Tom well said, It is easy for some people to be armchair sailor or Monday Morning quarterback this sort of thing behind the comfort of their computer while someone else's life is on the line.
For those that might be interested I can shed a little insight as to the type of boat Abby is sailing. The Class 40 is intended for short handed racing either single or two handed. However unlike the larger Imoca Open 60 the class 40 rule does promote tighter constraints within the Box Rule. No need to go into a lot of technical detail here but can show you in a couple of pictures some specifics of this particular design. Picture one shows a general Profile and picture two gives a little more detail
As you can see this is not your typical sailboat. The hull shape has more volume than a typical boat of this size. Both in maximum beam and in freeboard (the distance between the waterline and sheerline) This promotes form stability. In picture two you can see the liferaft module on the stern below it is an emergency hatch. The hatch is specifically intended for rescue or escape in a capsize situation. As specified by the Rule the boat must be able to withstand a 90 degree test. What this is the boat is literally tilted on its side and then it must be able to right itself. Now of course this is done in calm water situations but try this with some of your typical production sailboats. The AVS (Angle of Vanishing Stability) for boats of this type is at minimum 127.5 degrees. Once the boat goes beyond this point basically a capsize has occurred. It is possible for a boat to right itself beyond this point through the force of the ocean but several factors can keep this from happening.
The fact that the boat has been reported as moving at 1 knot in a backwards direction could indicate two things. 1. she has lost her mast which under the conditions is very likely or two she has incurred a capsize and at that time the auto EPRIB would be activated. She also could have set off the auto EPRIB herself by forcing its activation. Going back to the two pictures I posted as I noted the extra Hull Volume. If the conditions are as rough as earlier reported and the boat is somewhat structurally intact and Abby has minimal injuries it could be wise to stay inside the boat and not subject herself to the elements. The liferaft could be even more dangerous. Boats of the type typically have the keel and the rudders painted bright orange. Even if she lost the keel the surrounding area of the keel joint and the hull is painted this same color. This would make it easier to spot the boat from above but no question that this is a very large area to search.
As I said in an earlier post the critical factor is avoiding injury as this could inhibit her ability to help herself by deploying the liferaft or being able to move to a safer position within the capsized Hull. At this point all we can do is hope for the best and if she wants to write a book about it that ok with me.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:31am PT
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Slakkey, Is there an age at which you would wonder.. What were the parents thinking? 15? 14? How young would be too young to undertake such a thing? I know some incredible 16 years olds. I just question whether the best judgment was being used when many experts said she was late in her timing, putting her right where she is with difficult oceans.
Is it possible? sure.
Is it wise? I don't know. Thats why I am discussing it.
Edit: If I thought the parents were reading this forum, I probably wouldn't be discussing this right now. I do understand that the parents are worried and I hope that their daughter is okay.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:33am PT
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TV news is saying she has lost her mast, but she's OK.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:37am PT
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Great news Chaz!
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Denise Umstot
climber
Princess of the El Cap Bridge!
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:39am PT
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Chaz...Just heard. This is great news!
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Jun 11, 2010 - 03:22am PT
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As I said in my first post She is out there and now its a matter of time :) The basic point of my last post was to show that a boat of this type has the ability to withstand the rigors of offshore sailing more so than your typical boat and that even in an unfavorable situation such as a capsize her chance of survival is higher than normal.
John, no doubt the critics and the debate will continue but much like some of the debates here on the Taco they often just go round and round without any real solution. I agree there is probably an age where something like this is seen as too young but what that age is I cant answer that question.
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Jun 11, 2010 - 03:46am PT
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According to http://soloround.blogspot.com/
"Abby is Fine!
We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!
We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know. "
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Anastasia
climber
hanging from a crimp and crying for my mama.
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Jun 11, 2010 - 04:05am PT
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I am very happy she's fine. Gosh, this must have been a very painful ordeal for her family. Glad that there is happy ending and all that was lost was a silly mast.
AFS
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 11, 2010 - 06:31am PT
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I see a movie, probably a TV movie, on the horizon.
Her mast is wrecked, but she should hopefully be reached safely by the nearest ship.
But I agree that her parents were irresponsible for letting her try to do this at 16. Ego, nothing but ego and perhaps a payday. And no, it is not the same thing as some 12 year old (or is it 14?) climbing Everest with the support of a team of sherpas, even though I think that letting such a young person do such a thing is also somewhat irresponsible.
It seems to me that parents want to push their kids, baseball dads and soccer moms. Hey I have an idea, let's enter our six-year-old daughter in a beauty contest and dress her up like a tart so she can win, and then we can sell the rights and make moolah.
Petty, selfish and sick.
BTW, I don't have any children, so perhaps I don't know shite.
EDIT
I do not what this young gal's sailing experience is, but if I were her folks, I would have told her to wait a couple of years. It is not the same thing as allowing an adolescent climbing El Cap, for example.
I am learning to sail. I have my Competent Crew certificate (ISA/RYA) and working on my Day Skipper cert, then take the test for the ICC (International Certificate of Competence). I was looking at boats yesterday at a boat sail (oops, that should be sale) that MGM Boats in Dun Laoghaire is currently having.
Saw a very nice Jeanneau 43 Legend (among others) but while I can meet the price, the berthing and maintenance costs would put me off from buying. Better to spend the dough on sailing holidays.
Anyway, let's hope that Abby Sunderland is safely rescued.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Jun 11, 2010 - 06:58am PT
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Sail Boat 'Wild Eyes' lets 16yr old Abby Sunderland down and is dis-masted in the normally extremely rough Indian Ocean.
Designers of the boat should be called out on their failure to build a sail boat strong enough to sail the Southern Oceans and be knocked down continuously without damage!
Abby should 'kick their sorry asses when she gets the chance.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:03am PT
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Corniss Chopper, the Southern Oceans are tough for any boat/ship, perhaps the toughest on the planet, even more than the Gulf of Alaska (something I have the summer of 1977 experience with). Instead of Abby Sunderland kicking the boat designer's asses, she should be questioning her parents "wisdom" for allowing her to undertake such a venture.
Corniss, no offence, but typical American mentality, always looking to blame somebody else. The "victim" culture. One has to take responsibility for one's own actions, but no, there is either a lawsuit and/or a movie contract in the waiting.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:03am PT
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Good news for a change.
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reddirt
climber
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:18am PT
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yay whew!!!!
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:20am PT
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Well, gee Patrick, the mast did fall off. That should be a design impossibility. Knocked down, rolled, day after day. Should not fail.
So a design failure. ... are you one of the guilty boat-wrights? No.
Obviously it was not built strong enough for conditions.
Abby's still alive while her boat is dead. Calculate that!
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:26am PT
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Not too long ago, in terms of the history of the species, most people were dead by the time they were 30. Carpe diem!
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:26am PT
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I see what you are saying Corniss, but still I think I have a very good point.
You want to take on the Southern Ocean? Then make sure you are well-equipped, and even then it is a difficult challenge, to say the least. Yes, her mast failed, but perhaps more of the failure is in her parents allowing her to undertake the venture.
I just cannot understand why you fail to see that and want to blame the boat's manufacturers. And no, I am not boat-wright, so do not try to be clever, because you failed.
EDIT
Mcreel, I also see where you are coming from, but the life expectancy of a human in a developed country is much longer than 30, so in some ways your point is moot, Yes, seize the day, but do it when you are mature enough. Maybe people should allow their kids to grow up first before tackling the world.
My nephew (and godson) is being shipped out to Afghanistan on Sunday with his Marine company. He'll be 21 in July. I still think that is too young to be killed or maimed.
I don't know, maybe I am turning in to an old fart.
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reddirt
climber
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Jun 11, 2010 - 07:38am PT
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I'd rather have my 16 y.o. attempt what Abby did than the usual catchin' HPV, hangin' out w/ dealers, lookin' like a hooker etc etc etc.
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