Abby Sunderland Missing

[Aisling]

There was a pretty vocal opposition when word came out about her trying this. The thing is, though, I don't remember the same opposition (or at least as strongly) when her brother did it as a teenager. And, it may be because she was Australian, I don't remember hearing the same opposition when the first 16-year old girl did it.

Abby's parents have been heavily criticised for letting her sail a 12-metre racing yacht across the Indian Ocean in the notorious winter storm season, only a month after she was forced to stop in South Africa for auto-pilot problems.

A similar voyage by Australian teen Jessica Watson was done in much more favourable seasons.
The man who built Wild Eyes said that Abby was not up to the trip.

"The way we built the boat means that it is unsinkable. We had stringent rules to test the positive buoyancy and we tested it again and again," said Queensland boat builder Jon Sayer.

"This boat is bigger and faster than Jessica Watson's boat. In Abby's case she wasn't physically or mentally strong enough to handle a 40-foot boat in those winter storm conditions."

Round-the-world yachtsman Ian Kiernan criticised Abby for failing to respect the sea.

"I don't know what she's doing in the southern Indian Ocean in the middle of the winter. We need adventurers but adventurers who do foolhardy things and put their rescuers at risk, it should not be allowed."

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Would everyone feel better if she had waited for two more years? Because then it is just her choice.

I'm glad that she's OK.

That's the funny thing. There is a lot of talk here about maturity. I've met 16 year-olds who are much more mature and "life" capable than some 25 or even 30 year olds!

From the interviews I've seen, Abby seemed to be more on the mature side for her age. Maybe not as mature as a 25 year-old, but certainly as mature as an 18-year old, which, if she were actually 18, would have made a difference, apparently.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Wasn't there a girl who was actually banned from doing it? I think she was Dutch and the government actually put her under state supervision (or something like that).

And then she ran away and ended up on St. Maarten (or perhaps Aruba - it was a Dutch territory).

yes, they did intervene and the entire family was put under a microscope for thier foolish parental decision. Why are kids in such a hurry to grow up? when you turn 18, you are legally an adult with all the rights and responsiblities. Basically you can do what you want!! I know I did!

 

[teskak]

There was very big opposition in Australia when Jessica Watson embarked on her activities as in her 'shake-down' voyage she fell asleep and had not set her crash warning systm so she crashed into a massive Chinese coal carrier.

Many many people did not want her to go as if she crashes into a coal carrier on the first few days, what happens when she is out of sleep for a week?

Yes there were celebrations when she made it - but many did not think she should go in the first place

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Round-the-world yachtsman Ian Kiernan criticised Abby for failing to respect the sea.

"I don't know what she's doing in the southern Indian Ocean in the middle of the winter. We need adventurers but adventurers who do foolhardy things and put their rescuers at risk, it should not be allowed."[/B]

Sounds very similar to the criticism that Chris McCandless faced, after he had died. Maybe Abby should get Sean Penn to make a movie about her adventure, since McCandless became a folk-hero after the "Penn" treatment.

 

[wvjules]

Her parents should foot the bill as they are the ones that let her do this, not the good taxpayers of Australia!

How are the taxpayers of Australia footing the bill?

 

[Aisling]

That's the funny thing. There is a lot of talk here about maturity. I've met 16 year-olds who are much more mature and "life" capable than some 25 or even 30 year olds!

From the interviews I've seen, Abby seemed to be more on the mature side for her age. Maybe not as mature as a 25 year-old, but certainly as mature as an 18-year old, which, if she were actually 18, would have made a difference, apparently.

I don't know if it's a case of maturity as much as a case of experience. When I read that experiences adult sailors stay away from that part of the ocean during winter, it seems that was ignored by the her and her family. Also, her boat wasn't the "right" boat for her according to the builder.

I wonder if she ever sailed the southern hemisphere before during their winter months to learn the ropes??

 

[crashbb]

How are the taxpayers of Australia footing the bill?

The Australian government said that they are paying for the rescue. The Australian taxpayers foot the bill for whatever their government spends. Thus, the Australian taxpayers are footing the bill for the rescue.

 

[Aisling]

How are the taxpayers of Australia footing the bill?

The article I read said that the rescue cost will be in the hundreds of thousands. I don't know the Australian system, but if they pay taxes, they're paying those hundreds of thousands.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The Australian government said that they are paying for the rescue. The Australian taxpayers foot the bill for whatever their government spends. Thus, the Australian taxpayers are footing the bill for the rescue.

I never understood that line or reasoning, though. It's coming from tax money that's already been collected and earmarked. I'm sure their budget includes rescue missions for whatever their "coast guard" equivalent is. So it's not like they're sending a bill to each taxpayer asking for additional money.

 

[wvjules]

The Australian government said that they are paying for the rescue. The Australian taxpayers foot the bill for whatever their government spends. Thus, the Australian taxpayers are footing the bill for the rescue.

Ok. I thought the poster was talking about Quantas Air's fly over so I was confused as to where the taxpayers came in. Thanks.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I never understood that line or reasoning, though. It's coming from tax money that's already been collected and earmarked. I'm sure their budget includes rescue missions for whatever their "coast guard" equivalent is. So it's not like they're sending a bill to each taxpayer asking for additional money.

They, like almost every country, are running a deficit. They will have to collect more in taxes (or issue more debt) to pay for this. Just because it is in the budget doesn't mean that they had money actually set aside in a fund to pay for it.

Australia is doing the right thing, but there is no fund for this sort of thing.

 

[Planogirl]

As Australia said they would pay for this for any sailor regardless of age. That is just apparently their policy.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with my son doing this at the age of 16 by any means. However I don't know the girl and I don't know her parents. It sounds like they made some goofy decisions but I'm not sure if waiting two more years would have made much of a difference. The girl still wouldn't have had much life experience and the family might have still made some silly decisions.

 

[mumom95]

I have a question and have no idea if anyone here knows the answer or not, but I'll ask anyway:

If a parent in the US were to just up and leave their 16 year old home alone for a couple of months (the parent just leaves and doesn't come back for a couple of months), would CPS step in? Would it make a difference if the parents filled the fridge and gave the child enough money to pay for things while they were gone?

I used to think a parent couldn't do this, but if it appears to be ok to send your 16 year old out alone on the open see for an extended period of time, I would guess there wouldn't be anything illegal about leaving them at home alone for an extended period of time.

Anyone know?

 

[crashbb]

Ok. I thought the poster was talking about Quantas Air's fly over so I was confused as to where the taxpayers came in. Thanks.

It is possible that Quantas will charge the Australian government to recoup their costs. It has happened before when private companies are involved in things like this (i.e. rescues or other help to the population).

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I have a question and have no idea if anyone here knows the answer or not, but I'll ask anyway:

If a parent in the US were to just up and leave their 16 year old home alone for a couple of months (the parent just leaves and doesn't come back for a couple of months), would CPS step in? Would it make a difference if the parents filled the fridge and gave the child enough money to pay for things while they were gone?

I used to think a parent couldn't do this, but if it appears to be ok to send your 16 year old out alone on the open see for an extended period of time, I would guess there wouldn't be anything illegal about leaving them at home alone for an extended period of time.

Anyone know?

Maybe a lawyer could come and explain this, as I couldn't find any information about anything prior to the voyage. Once she is international waters, do our American laws and CPS become null and void? Was there some sort of waiver that was filed prior to the voyage?

 

[TerriP]

I have a question and have no idea if anyone here knows the answer or not, but I'll ask anyway:

If a parent in the US were to just up and leave their 16 year old home alone for a couple of months (the parent just leaves and doesn't come back for a couple of months), would CPS step in? Would it make a difference if the parents filled the fridge and gave the child enough money to pay for things while they were gone?

I used to think a parent couldn't do this, but if it appears to be ok to send your 16 year old out alone on the open see for an extended period of time, I would guess there wouldn't be anything illegal about leaving them at home alone for an extended period of time.

Anyone know?

I asked this same thing a couple of pages back and no one replied. I hope you get a response...I'd really like an answer.

 

[teskak]

I am the poster on the other thread

The closest capital city to the search area is my capital city - Perth. The maritime safety organisaton (government body) chartered a 747 from our publically listed but 'national' carrier that would normally be running shuttle flights between Australian capital cities through the day.

That plane was chartered, for a flight our media reported was an 11 hour round trip with air observers + presumably a full flight crew as they would have for a flight between Aus & USA

There is not a specific budget line for 'rescuing dingbats from the Southern Ocean' - more the Maritime Safety authority would have the right to tap into 'general' emergency government funds when Qantas files the bill for today's charter + another for tomorrow

 

[crashbb]

I am the poster on the other thread

The closest capital city to the search area is my capital city - Perth. The maritime safety organisaton (government body) chartered a 747 from our publically listed but 'national' carrier that would normally be running shuttle flights between Australian capital cities through the day.

That plane was chartered, for a flight our media reported was an 11 hour round trip with air observers + presumably a full flight crew as they would have for a flight between Aus & USA

There is not a specific budget line for 'rescuing dingbats from the Southern Ocean' - more the Maritime Safety authority would have the right to tap into 'general' emergency government funds when Qantas files the bill for today's charter + another for tomorrow

So, apropos my previous post, Quantas is charging the Australian government for the fly over.

 

[Planogirl]

Can't a parent sign for a 16 year old to marry in many states? If so, they might be able to do the same for this type of thing.

Just conjecturing...