Some of you may have read my post on Abby Sunderland, the 16 year old girl who set out to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe without stopping. She did stop – but then continued her voyage.
Well – in the last couple of days she encountered stormy weather and high seas in the Indian Ocean, and she lost contact with her parents. It turns out her mast snapped due to the high seas, and she activated her emergency beacon, triggering an international rescue mission and worldwide worry and prayers. Abby’s parents have been criticized for letting their daughter undertake this mission at all, given the potential danger. However, they believe that Abby’s skills and preparation and equipment – as well as her personal passion for sailing – made the risk acceptable.
Abby has been found and is awaiting a rescue ship. But for anyone who’s appalled or astonished or impressed to learn about this girl, I suggest checking out her blog. Just reading the most recent week’s worth of entries shows the depth of Abby’s sailing expertise, her passion for sailing, her self-discipline in managing minor and major crises as they occur, and her wealth of equipment (the specs on her boat are pretty impressive). She repaired a torn sail, worked on a glitchy engine, dried wet equipment, and reported in to her parents and the world wide web – all in high seas with 20+ foot waves. When she anticipated bad weather, she purposefully went to bed early, knowing she might not get another opportunity to rest for a while. She worked in the dark to find the source of water pouring into her boat – and ‘helped’ her pump along with some hand bailing. That young woman was as prepared as anyone could be for this mission, and she shows incredible spirit in pursuing her passion. There’s a lesson in her adventure for all of us. I don’t think it’s a lesson about parenting by keeping your children safe from danger. I think, rather, it’s a lesson about having the courage and the discipline and the passion to follow your heart.
Read Abby’s blog here.
thanks, Ami
Doc Häagen-Dazs
June 12, 2010
Glad she’s going to be okay. Who wouldn’t be glad of that? But I’m sad that she’s stunt-sailing. Puts potential rescuers at risk.
Ami
June 12, 2010
@Doc Haagen-Dazs: Thanks for the thoughtful comment. The risk to rescuers is one aspect of the whole thing that troubles me too, as well as the ‘show’ atmosphere of the attempt. At the same time, I think – don’t rescuers also sometimes risk their lives for drunks on a weekend sail gone wrong, families stranded when an engine conks out, and overly ambitious beginners? And was the show orchestrated by Abby and family – or did the mere attempt (perhaps she’s trying to show up big brother, who circumnavigated the globe as a teen previously) bring on the rabid media attention b/c we’re all so starved for news of something, anything, different and more positive than oil spill and war news? After reading her blog, I believe this effort occurred b/c of a young woman’s passion, determination and love of sailing. She may have gotten a thrill as well from the attention. I guess I can live with that.
Doc Häagen-Dazs
June 12, 2010
(Subscribing)
Ami
June 12, 2010
@Doc Haagen-Dazs: thanks
Sanford
June 13, 2010
We are so often afraid to follow our passions. And are given so many *good* reasons not to follow them.
Many people will hit a point in their life where they use drugs and/or booze and get in their cars and drive. This girl will never do that.
If we are worried about the safety of “innocent bystanders” it might be better to encourage thoughtful bravery in our young. I imagine her rescuers were proud to be of help.
Ami
June 13, 2010
@Sanford: Well said.
I must admit, though, when I read the first line of the article on the rescue “Abby Sunderland is safe in the hands of French sailors” I thought, “Oh boy.” Is that bad?
Sanford
June 13, 2010
It can be hard not to profile and stereotype, and I don’t blame you. It’s part of human nature.
Also, they get payed big bucks to write semi provocative headlines.
Ami
June 13, 2010
@Sanford: big bucks, provocative headlines . . . hmmmm. I wonder – if I start writing more provocative headlines, will that translate into big bucks? 😉