Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Jessica Watson pounded by 70knots, Abby Sunderland sets off

by Nancy Knudsen on 24 Jan 2010
Abby farewell Lisa Gizara 2009 Gizaraarts.Com
While our Sunshine coast teenager, 16-year-old Jessica Watson has just received her worst pounding so far, with 70 knot winds and three knock-downs during the gale, Californian sailor, the slightly younger 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, has just departed Marina del Ray in California on a similar quest to that of Jessica - to be the youngest sailor to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world.

Abby, younger sister of Zac Sunderland, who last year became the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the world, is setting off to emulate and eclipse her brother's feat, as well as being in friendly competition with Jessica.

Departing California's premier yachting facility Marina del Ray yesterday, Abby, on her Open 40 Wild Eyes, was farewelled by hundreds of well wishers, and escorted out of calm waters by yachts from the Del Ray Yacht Club.


Her brother didn't keep his unofficial record for long. British teen sailor Michael Perham, already in the news as the youngest sailor to cross the Atlantic solo, had set off after Zac in a much faster boat, and he was about three months younger. Mike took the record from Zac just a couple months after Zac had finished. (Neither of the boys completed their journeys non-stop and unassisted.) Then, in September, Jessica departed, and has since crossed the equator twice, rounded Cape Horn, and is more than half way through her voyage. She has reported that her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, handled the recent bad conditions and the three knock-downs well.

Abby doesn't hide the fact that she was inspired by her brother's feat. 'Every little kid wants to be a doctor or a princess or a firefighter,' Sunderland told reporters just before she left, while trying to explain the motivation behind her controversial excursion. 'But watching my own brother go out and actually do it; it really made me realize that you can do things like this.'

Abby's father, Laurence Sunderland, obviously attempting to deflect the widely expressed suspicion that parents whose children attempt such challenges are spurred on by their ambitious parents, told reporters that during the last three years he had tried to dissuade his daughter from such a venture by taking her sailing in nasty weather and bad sea conditions, but she only became more determined.

Abby's mother, Marianne, also supports her daughter's voyage. She told reporters before the departure, 'At first I wasn't as supportive as I was with Zac -- with him I never had a doubt. However with the new Abby I've seen over the last months, I have seen an incredibly tough and determined young woman take the place of the sweet girl she had always been. Now I am really excited for her because it is true that this has been something she's been talking about for years.'

Abby and her team are slightly worried, however, about the timing of her journey. While, on her present schedule, she will round the Horn in the height of summer when conditions should be the best they can be, her delayed departure - delayed because of necessary boat preparation - means that by the time she sails south of Australia, the weather will be approaching Autumn, and the weather will be deteriorating.

Sail-World, along with thousands of sailors around the world, wishes her fair sailing.

However, as I write these words, my heart is anxious for Abby.

Her Open 40 yacht is a racing boat rather than a cruising boat, and for this reason offers her the best chance of getting round the world before the worst of the winter in the Southern Ocean.

However, it is also more complex and more difficult to handle - in the conditions she is likely to face - than the sturdy and slow Sparksman and Stephens 34 that Jessica is sailing.

Armstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERSea Sure 2025

Related Articles

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race Start
Lucky leads in early stages Bryon Ehrhart's Lucky was lucky to make the start of the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race today, but make it the Juan K 88 from the USA did and led the charge to Sydney Heads, turning left at 1.12pm after the 1pm start near Sow & Pigs Reef at Watsons Bay.
Posted today at 6:45 am
49er & 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds Day 4
SailGP stars do a "Max Verstappen" to take control of the 49er Worlds From SailGP to skiff supremacy: Spain's Diego Botín and Florian Trittel jumped to the top of the leaderboard at the 2025 49er World Championship in Cagliari after a commanding day on the water.
Posted today at 6:21 am
J/80 North American Championship 2025 day 2
Beautiful Day with Four Races at Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans Day two of the J/80 North American Championship hosted by Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, LA was a gorgeous one on the water.
Posted on 10 Oct
2.4mR Worlds at Lake Garda, Italy Day 2
3 races in even lighter Ora winds than on the opening day The second day of racing at the 2.4mR World Championship delivered even lighter Ora winds than on the opening day, setting the stage for another technically demanding afternoon on Lake Garda.
Posted on 10 Oct
North Sails October Savings on April Delivery
Timing is everything! Smart sailors know when to act. Right now is the ideal time to order new sails: take advantage of end-of-season pricing, and ensure you're ready when the season returns in April. Make your move before October 31st.
Posted on 10 Oct
Innovative Energy Solutions & Technology Transfer
Ferrari Hypersail brings knowledge from Sports Cars to Sailing During the Technology and Innovation Workshop dedicated to the presentation of the components of the first Ferrari elettrica, the Hypersail team unveiled a preview of the technologies for energy management on the boat.
Posted on 10 Oct
Doyle Sails: A huge season of success
Doyle Sails customers have had a huge season of racing, cruising and enjoying time on the water. Doyle Sails customers have had a huge season of racing, cruising and enjoying time on the water. From Maxi World Championship winners, One Design World Championships and stunning Superyachts turning heads at every event.
Posted on 10 Oct
49er & 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds Day 3
Sweden, Australia and Italy all move to the top Some great breeze for foiling in the catamarans and full-on planing in the skiffs, with some surprise leaders in the 49er and 49erFX and a not-so-surprising new leader in the Nacra 17 fleet...
Posted on 10 Oct
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 3 Season 3
Australian Sailing's new CEO, Mal Page OAM, sits in the Captain's Chair to detail his vision... Episode Three - In the Captain's Chair this week is Australian Sailing's new CEO, Mal Page OAM. Watch as we discover his vision for his new role, enduring passion for the sport, desire to still go racing, and the pathways into the sport.
Posted on 9 Oct
2.4mR Worlds at Lake Garda, Italy Day 1
A gentle Ora breeze builds throughout the afternoon for the 56 sailors The Inclusive 2.4mR World Championship 2025 officially began today in the waters of Lake Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 9 Oct