A miracle in the Indian Ocean? Abby was spotted overnight, alive and well in her disabled sailboat. Read on for earlier post….
Other than flying into outer space, I can think of no more perilous a trip than sailing around the world alone. People who keep their teenagers on a short leash can likely not imagine what the parents of 16 year old Abby Sunderland were thinking when they watched her depart for what was to be a record breaking trip beginning in January. No doubt they were thinking the same thoughts as when their son Zac did the same thing at age 17.
Teenagers are remarkable “sub adults” and I believe most of them are capable of accomplishing more than parents give them credit for. Usually I think parents hold their kids back by protecting them too much and not allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them but Abby’s sailing trip is in a league all its own. So much can go wrong, and last night, it apparently did.
With seas building and weather deteriorating, Abby sent an email saying her ship was getting battered and she would try to sleep before the winds really kicked up. That is the last anyone heard of her. Now the closest ship to investigate the distress call is 40 hours away.
I have heard of these solo sailing trips and always assumed there was some kind of escort vessel nearby, at least closer than 40 hours. Was the family that confident that the middle of the Indian Ocean during storm season was not that much of a threat to a child barely old enough to legally drive to the store and back?
As teenagers attempt new world records with their daring and skill, let every parent and thrill seeker remember the story of Abby Sunderland. Global communications and travel have made the world a smaller place for every successive generation, but the thought of a child, alone, in a vast and stormy ocean produces a shiver across the bone.
Click here for Abby’s blog.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Agreed.
One bit of irony, in all of this, at least to me, is that we, even as adults, are warned never to swim alone, be it a pool, a lake, whatever.
A friend’s mother died of a heart attack while swimming alone in a pool. From the outside, seeing her, you’d never know there was a thing wrong – thin, exercised regularly, young 60s. Tragic.
Yes, that’s a rare occurrence, but things happen, and they can still happen with 2 people together, but an extra set of hands or eyes in a case like this is imperative – no matter the age. If she fell ill, passed out, then what?
What a relief it was to here she was alive and should be rescued sometime tomorrow. As for parenting, sometimes a parent has to be a parent and so “NO”. Todays parents want to be friends first and parents second. The way it works is you parent as well as you can and pray that your kids become your friends. It has worked for us as our kids are grown and moved out and we are friends.
I have to admit that I am an overprotective parent of my only child, and am one of those people thinking about how crazy these parents were for letting her go. Thanks Maureen for allowing me to see another side. I need to let go once in awhile! I’m sure my son will be better in the end. I must stop worrying so.
Denise
Hi Maureen-
Last week, as I whiled away the morning waiting in the Drs. office, I read most of the lead Time magazine article on over parenting. I read with shaking head how parents smother their children’s spontaneity, confidence, and growth. One example: parents removed the swing set from the backyard after 2 incidents of skinned knees!
At the other end of the rainbow is Abby. I can’t quite figure this one out. I always tried to encourage kids to reach beyond themselves, especially in their pre-teen years. I loved it when they used to say: “I can do it my own self!” As long at that entailed something they could reasonably accomplish with no or little intervention, they could always go for it. Jumping into a swimming pool off the roof did not fit the definition of “reasonably accomplish.”
As I understand, Abby and her brother have sailing skills, and their boat and all communication/navigation equipment are state of the art and with redundant systems. I guess my perceived lack of her experience swings the vote. Skill without experience can be troublesome. But maybe she had lots of experience sailing like that on shorter trips. Then there is the comfort level of her parents to factor in. For them, this was a go. I guess I’m hard wired just enough not to think this is such a good idea at 16.
News from Boston: a television news story aired this week that there is talk of shutting down lobster fishing in southern New England (Cape Cod and south to N.C.) as the population is down. Watch for a big debate on this one, as an entire industry will be affected. The good news: north of the Cape to Maine still has an abundance of lobsters. The bottom line is we’ll still be able to buy Mr. Lobster, but price may be affected. You’ll soon find out!
Don
Good Mornin Maureen, I wonder why Abby,s parents did not atleast send a dog along with her for company. Could, maybe, they thought this trip was way too dangerous for a dog !
Good comments. Cathy’s swimming alone and Ken’s being a parent, not just the friend. May have mentioned this in a former blog but one memory stands out. Single parent, boys were just 15 and 18. 18 year old was driving to Rich Stadium, 4th of July with 2 friends to see Rolling Stones. I would not let 15 year old go. They were actually staying with my brother overnight in Lockport. 15 year old was so mad at me. He now has an almost 15 year old son and we have many talks. I can listsen and try not to chuckle at his parenting stories. He’s a great father. Always a good Blog Maureen.
this has nothing to do with a 16-year-old traversing the world, but is a response – an agreement, really – with your your reflections about teens, and stretching the limits, on the blog … one of the scariest things i’ve ever done was to drive my oldest boy out to skydive just after his 18th birthday. but he was old enough to do it, he intended to do it, and my wife and i figured we might as well be there to see it. and then he came floating out of the clouds. he said he feels no need to do it again, and at the same time is absolutely glad he tried it … and i am glad i got to see it happen.
sean