Tip of the hat to Australia for sending a Qantas Airbus A330 with full tanks of gas and making contact with Abby Sunderland. I understand the flight was about 4,700-mile (7,600-kilometer) round trip from Perth to Sunderland’s boat (Wild Eyes), which is near the limit of its range. She’s not out of the woods yet, but she’s alive and rescue boats are in route. I also understand that the Airbus was commissioned by the Australian government, and they’re going to pick up the tab.
I’ve never sailed in 30-40 foot waves, but I’ve sailed in cold weather, rain, blowing a steady 45 mph and gusting to 60 mph. That was an adventure for sure, but there were 10 of us crewing the boat…she’s all by her lonesome.
She gets the first official Juju Medal, for Tenacity.
4 Comments
I am SO glad she’s okay though. YAY Australia! I loved it there.
Me too!!!
Some pinhead on the radio this morning was hyperventilating about Sunderland’s parents. “How could they let her do this! She should be safe & in school!! What’s she gonna learn out there???” etc., etc.
What’s she gonna learn? That after dismasting a small boat in heavy seas and surviving the experience, ain’t nothing gonna scare that girl. Drop her in a boardroom with rabid lawyers in 10 years, she ain’t even gonna blink.
The bedwetters and nervous nancyboys out there really piss me off…
Yeap…I agree. If I had a daughter, she’d be as tenacious as her, and she would be able to hold her own with the dancing nancies. Fact.