Abby Sunderland Missing

[robinb]

I thought it was a foolish decision when I originally heard that she was trying to sail around the world. The fact that she got herself into trouble and has to be rescued at great expense makes that decision even more foolish.

 

[crashbb]

I think the question basically comes down to this: Should every person be responsible for the cost of their own rescue regardless of age?

I'm not sure how true this is, but when we were in the Grand Canyon we were told that if we needed a rescue due to doing something obviously stupid, the rescuers would charge for the rescue.

By doing something obviously stupid they meant - hiking down without any food/water, hiking down without appropriate footwear/clothing, ignoring posted warnings or weather reports.

So, there is some precedence for making people responsible for the cost of their own rescue (assuming that I was told the truth).

 

[Buckalew11]

Probably been said, am not reading it, but seems ironic to me that her brother sailed around the world last year and I never heard of him. Some other 16 yr. just sailed around the world and I never heard of her either. But the girl who doesn't make it, I have heard of.

I'm glad and thankful she is safe.

 

[hereyago]

Probably been said, am not reading it, but seems ironic to me that her brother sailed around the world last year and I never heard of him. Some other 16 yr. just sailed around the world and I never heard of her either. But the girl who doesn't make it, I have heard of.

I'm glad and thankful she is safe.

ITA! Her 17 year old brother did it last year and CPS didn;t go after the parents then. I guess the CPS didn't think it was child endangerment when he did it.

I did hear about Abby and the Australian girl who did complete the sail on 60 minutes or a show like that recently. People will put their kid in a 1,000 plus ton car, what happens when that kid speeds and kill himself or someone else? Death is the same at the end.

I do agree that her parents and her sponsors need to pay for the rescue. Just with all sports that are risky I do believe people who want to take that chance should have to pay for the rescue, just like people who will wait on a natural disaster to protect their stuff and need rescuing, charge them too.

 

[DawnCt1]

And her parents should be made to pay for her rescue efforts.

Why? They all volunteered. A fishing boat is en route. What HUGE effort has been made beyond a search plane and a fishing boat?

 

[DawnCt1]

While I agree with you, there is a sense of entitlement, as the vast majority of 16 year olds have not had the sailing experience on 40-foot yachts to attempt to do this.

That isn't "entitlement". She has a 40 ft yacht....which is very big when it is tied up at the dock, but incredibly small in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Some people have more than other people. What is wrong with that?

 

[Art 1]

She is what the USA used to be all about. Adventure, risk and big ideas. While other girls her age are doing who knows what with whom, getting pierced noses and such, she was on an amazing journey. She must be from an amazing family.

 

[Art 1]

ITA! Her 17 year old brother did it last year and CPS didn;t go after the parents then. I guess the CPS didn't think it was child endangerment when he did it.

I did hear about Abby and the Australian girl who did complete the sail on 60 minutes or a show like that recently. People will put their kid in a 1,000 plus ton car, what happens when that kid speeds and kill himself or someone else? Death is the same at the end.

I do agree that her parents and her sponsors need to pay for the rescue. Just with all sports that are risky I do believe people who want to take that chance should have to pay for the rescue, just like people who will wait on a natural disaster to protect their stuff and need rescuing, charge them too.

And who should pay for the hospital bills for all the young girls having babies and all the uninsured who throw their money away on vice? All good questions.

 

[teskak]

the search plane is a QANTAS 707 that has been tasked away from its regular commuter flights for the 11 hr round trip + 2 sets of flight crew + 11 Volunteer air observers (I volunteered for the organisation for 8 years and depending on your employer you lost pay for attending call outs)

The commercial fishing vessel would be burning a lot of fuel to go to the spot as fast as possible.

Another 707 is chartered for today to go back to the search site to keep in contact with her.

It was $200k cost last night before today's effort. Simple question of rank stupidity, what would be the comment if some 16 year old decided to sail solo in the Bering Sea during mid winter? That is exactly the same as what she chose to do in the Southern Ocean

 

[teskak]

It is not a matter of 'volunteering' - navigation rules of the sea require Australia to send out planes etc to come to the rescue of anybody in distress in the waters south of Australia.

Geography means that the government HAS to do it.

What cheeses me off is WHEN this family sells thier story to 60 Minutes or similar that they follow the pattern set by several other 'adventurers' who have been rescued from extreme southern locations and who were paid $$$ for story and repaid bupkis


http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/9/newsid_2518000/2518229.stm

 

[Dismagic1]

I think it's funny how nobody answered my question so I will ask again:

If Abby was 18, who should cover the costs of the rescue mission? Should Abby get a bill?

 

[crashbb]

I think it's funny how nobody answered my question so I will ask again:

If Abby was 18, who should cover the costs of the rescue mission? Should Abby get a bill?

I'm not convinced that Abby (or her parents) should be charged. However, if I did think that they should be charged then I would think she should be charged no matter how old she was.

However, if she wasn't 16 years old, would the same rescue have been mounted?

 

[teskak]

I think that anybody who launches on a limited crew 'adventure' mission whether it is sailing the Bering Sea, Southern Ocean, walking to the North Pole or solo travel through the Suez Canal and passing by the Somali pirate hunting grounds should post some sort of a bond to cover possible rescue costs.

Bodies of those who die are left on Everest - are people supposed to risk thier lives to rescue children who choose to put thier lives at risk by sailing in the Bering Sea? I understand the crab fishers there pay an amount towards their coast guard services

 

[Dismagic1]

I'm not convinced that Abby (or her parents) should be charged. However, if I did think that they should be charged then I would think she should be charged no matter how old she was.

However, if she wasn't 16 years old, would the same rescue have been mounted?

If you don't think that Abby should be billed if she was 18, then there is no reason to say her parents should be billed for her being under 16. Makes no sense.

And yes the same rescue would have been mounted.

 

[crashbb]

If you don't think that Abby should be billed if she was 18, then there is no reason to say her parents should be billed for her being under 16. Makes no sense.

Did you bother reading what I wrote? I specifically said that my view on whether or not she should be charge was independent of her age.

 

[Dismagic1]

Did you bother reading what I wrote? I specifically said that my view on whether or not she should be charge was independent of her age.

Yes it was more a reply to others on the board who feel like Abby's parents should be billed.

 

[dumboiu]

Why? They all volunteered. A fishing boat is en route. What HUGE effort has been made beyond a search plane and a fishing boat?

Do you have any idea what it cost to run a plane - especially one of that size?

 

[dumboiu]

I think it's funny how nobody answered my question so I will ask again:

If Abby was 18, who should cover the costs of the rescue mission? Should Abby get a bill?

Why what-if the situation? She is 16; she is a minor; her parents allowed this stunt; they should pay for her rescue efforts.

You never answered my question, so let me state it more directly - would you like to pay for her rescue efforts?

 

[Dismagic1]

Why what-if the situation? She is 16; she is a minor; her parents allowed this stunt; they should pay for her rescue efforts.

You never answered my question, so let me state it more directly - would you like to pay for her rescue efforts?

I'll answer your question after you answer mine.

 

[dumboiu]

That isn't "entitlement". She has a 40 ft yacht....which is very big when it is tied up at the dock, but incredibly small in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Some people have more than other people. What is wrong with that?

You don't think a 16 year old having a 40 foot yacht doesn't scream entitlement? Yes, some people do have more than other people and that is life - but why should those who don't have as much (the vast majority of the taxpayers) be forced to pay for the rescue of those who act irresponsible?