Top item on Google trends as I’m writing this (5:15 a.m., EST), Abby Sunderland. Need you even ask? The world had pretty much forgotten that a 16-year-old girl had set out in a sailboat from Marina del Rey in Feburary on a three-hour tour, until she was reported missing on Thursday somewhere in the Indian Ocean. It looked bleak for a while, then, huzzah! Her boat has been spotted, and apparently she’s OK. A French rescue ship should reach her by Saturday. I tried to tell her she should have just attended the Justin Bieber concert like everyone else.
This continues to be huge news all over the world, for two reasons:
Backseat parenting. Many are saying that her parents are crazy for letting their 16-year-old daughter try to sail around the globe … (I won’t even let my daughter circumnavigate the mall.) But then, I’m watching The History Channel last night, about the Revolutionary War, and I learn that a lot of what we know about many of the battles comes from the diary of Joseph Plumb Martin, who was 15 when he enlisted in 1776. So it all depends on the individual and your perspective, I guess.
The Baby Jessica Effect. March 26, 1986, 18-month Jessica McClure falls down a well in Midland, Texas. The nation is transfixed during the 58-hour rescue effort, which ends successfully. If they had Google then, it would have been trending up the wazoo. For a few hours on Thursday, Sunderland was the modern Baby Jessica, only with sharks. It could be said of both that they were victims of youthful curiosity, and, perhaps, a lack of proper parental supervision. But the main thing is, it appears that both stories will have a happy endings. And those are pretty scarce these days.
Gilligan! It’s Friday! Drop that coconut! (Bonk!)
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
What you missed after forgetting to remove your keys before going through the metal detector …
* England’s Three Lions snubbed by actual lions.
* I see absolutely no way this can end badly.
***
TODAY IN MARK TRAIL …
Don’t worry Rusty, this will all seem like a bad dream once video games are invented.
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- Trish - Jun 11, 2010 at 2:56 PM
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As parents, our 1st responsibility is to make sure kids are safe. It’s true, we let them drive a car, but not on the Audubon! And this isn’t the Revolutionary War, it’s “recreation!” What were they thinking?
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- kit - Jun 11, 2010 at 11:12 PM
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It’s not something I am comfortable with – pushing kids into record setting feats. That sounds more like the parents dream than the kids. As soon as the words “youngest” come into play it becomes less about the child’s readiness than the record books. From reports the weather was always problematical but postponing beyond the stormy season would lose the record-setting.
It was likely she’d run into trouble and now the expense will be borne by the Australian taxpayer who had no say in this. Rescue operations are for everyone, rightly so, regardless of the rightness of the journey. But this family is about their own fame and probably fortune. Can a book and appearance on Today Show be far behind?
Balloon boy comes to mind but at least they had the sense to keep the kid hidden and not actually flying. There have always been stage parents, who push their kids to achieve what they can not. She is a great sailor but 16-year-olds are not meant to be alone for such long periods.
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- John - Jun 12, 2010 at 1:17 PM
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Somewone posted “a lack of proper parental supervision”. As if this was a situation the kids in Ferris Beuhler’s Day Off taking the Porsche for a joyride. This was not “balloon boy stunt” either. That strong and confident young lady was an experienced sailor, had plenty of time in solo experience, and had embarked on a well planned expedition. Her older brother had already done it and the family surely learned a great deal about planning and execution in the meanwhile. Long distance sailing is a far cry from Gilligan’s three hour tour, the craft they pilot are high tech wonders of space age materials engineered to take a beating and stay afloat (as hers did). They are equiped with ship to ship/ship to satellite communications, sat-navvigation gear as well, plus a world of other safety features that were sci-fi pipe dreams only 20 years ago. She took on the Indian Ocean’s worst and and it may have stopped her, but she was unbeaten. She is a hero to me.
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- Judith - Jun 12, 2010 at 1:28 PM
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I think it’s fine for people to try climbing the Materhorn in winter to set a record or sailing a rubber raft around the world on a bet. Just be sure to let them know beforehand that their rescue expenses will come out of their (or their parents) pocket.
I don’t know how they would compensate for the rescuers who lose their lives trying to bring them back safely.
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- mortsnerd70 - Jun 12, 2010 at 2:37 PM
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To compare allowing a 16 year old girl to attempt sailing around the world alone in a small sailboat and teenagers serving in the Revolutionary War is perhaps one of the stupidest comparisons I’ve ever heard.
I don’t know if I would have allowed my teenage son to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. It was a different time and a completely different circumstance than this. But sending a teenage son or daughter off an a high-seas “adventure” alone, even with the best equipment, is the height of parental abuse, arrogance, and seemingly an attempt to live out one’s own unfulfilled dreams through an innocent kid.
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- Carl Rodney - Jun 12, 2010 at 4:44 PM
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These Irrisponsable Parents are all about Making Money and fame
subjecting a Minor to these harsh Oceanic conditions, not to mention the possability of Pirates getting their hands on this
Minor,,,These Parents should be Prosicuted for Child Abuse,neglet
for her safety,,,Its all about the NEED for GREED !
Thank God she is Safe,it well could have gone the Other way !
A Thousand Oaks Resident
Carl
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- John - Jun 12, 2010 at 5:46 PM
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I totally agree, every word, with what John (the other John) has to say. This was not a ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ undertaking by the Sunderlands. They knew what they were doing and their children have been sailors their entire life.
Now, if I decided to send my teenager off to sail the world, there would be an issue you pesimists could bitch about because she has never stepped foot into anything other than an aluminum fishing boat. So reconsider your harsh words for the Sunderlands. All of you complaining are sitting on your lazy asses critizing other people when you are too afraid to be adventurous yourself. Mind your own business and just be proud of your fellow man and that complete strangers risked everything to bring her home.
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- Rick - Jun 12, 2010 at 6:13 PM
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It wasn’t that long ago that 16 year olds were considered adults and getting married and having families, I would rather my kids set goals and work (Yes, I said Work) to achieve them rather than sitting around the house sex-ting, out drinking with their friends or worst doing drugs because today’s parents don’t support their kids goals and aspirations like the Sunderlands do.
The Sunderlands did what good parents should be doing, they passed along their knowledge to live and survive in this world. Which is what Abby has shown us all. She survived in a situation a lot of others even adults may not have. This just goes to show us what great parents like the Sunderlands are. My hat is off to the Sunderland Family.
Congratulations Abby. Hopping your reunited with Wild Eye’s and continue to pursue your dreams what ever they are and where ever they lead you.
Rick
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- donniemac_in_athens - Jun 12, 2010 at 6:48 PM
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heck, for that matter, no one drives on the Audobon!
Helicopter Moms are disasters and parents like the Sunderlands are a joy.
Congratulations on a fine attempt and glad you are safe and sound, Abby.
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- ms.r - Jun 12, 2010 at 7:36 PM
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i agree rich spoiled kid get in to a prob an the goverment has the burdon .when she gets the film rights what have you. that should pay the bill
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- Jim - Jun 12, 2010 at 9:42 PM
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This is a young lady who has a bright future because she has the confidence and courage to attempt something risky and out of the ordinary. There are too many “Busy Bodies” out there who need to mind their own business. Congratulations, Abby, for following your dreams. All of the real progress made in this world is because of those who are not afraid to explore.
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- Morton Redner - Jun 14, 2010 at 2:00 PM
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I guess it’s up to me to be the schoolmarm here:
It’s spelled “autobahn”
