What do you think about Abby Sunderland having to be rescued?

Who do you think should pay for the rescue? Do you think she should have been out there on the sea? I'm reading about all the expenses that went into this rescue, and although I agree she needed to be rescued, I think the parents should be held responsible for at least some of the costs.|||I think it is a great testimony to why you, me, everyone, should have not one, but two EPIRBs on our boats. They not only knew her exact position, they knew she was in trouble, but they also knew the boat was not sinking or taking on water...


( If those two NFL players, Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, had of had one, they would still be alive today... )





As far as your question should she have been out there? Sure she should of... why not? More then a dozen teenagers have sailed around the world without one loss of life... Statistically, out of a dozen teenagers driving a car - 3 will loose their lives before they reach 20. So, for all those mothers (mostly it was all mothers) that were making all those harsh statements on the news that were directed at Abby's parents... I say, at least Abby's parents were actively involved with their kids lives, and knew where and what their kids were doing. (By far, most parents don't know that.)





Under the International Convention for the Safety at Sea, It dictates that rescues at sea are a no-cost agreement. International Maritime law regarding search and rescue operations are that any ship in the area of a distress call will divert to assist that ship. (This by the way was put into effect after the Titanic disaster.)





Besides, because Abby had an EPIRB, it was a simple (and cheap) straight forward rescue. It cost Australia about $125,000 US dollars. Compare that to the 1997, $6 million rescue of British sailor Tony Bullimore and Frenchman Thierry Dubois, (who did not have an EPIRB on board, and with the earlier earlier rescue of Isabelle Autissier was rescued at a cost of $5.8 million, who had no EPIRB - this leaves search planes and vessels having to "mow the lawn" over thousands of square miles of ocean to locate the vessel or the sailor. An EPIRB gives the position within 3 feet.





The rescue maritime law has been in effect now for almost 100 years. Now I don't know about you, but while I will gladly turn my boat and race to rescue someone, I am certainly not then, going to turn around and send them a bill... or expect or accept payment. I just have too much respect for life, and for my fellow man to do that.





"Home is the sailor, home from the sea..."





Happy %26amp; Safe Boating,


John|||I guess you could demand the families of any foreigner coming to grief anywhere in the world regardless of the reason should pay the cost to the country they are in or near. Perhaps the next lot of American tourists can pay for Australian rescue services when they get lost in a desert here and utilise tens of thousands of dollars in time and costs, or perhaps the accepted and very long-standing agreement internationally that all mariners in trouble can call for assistance on any nation or vessel should be scrapped, and everyone can fend for themselves wherever they are regardless.





Or perhaps not.





I think the issue of costs to the rescuers has already been dealt with by the family, and very publicly.





I think there is too much attention paid to these young sailors in the negative, and further appears to be more an aggressive attack on the sex of these young sailors, rather than any capability they may have.





I also think the decision of record keeping bodies to refuse to recognise any youngest category in this type of sailing is absolutely correct, as it is only a matter of time before some numb nut sticks a seven year old in a Radio Controlled S%26amp;S 34 to prove some ultimately pointless thing - and after that what, four year olds?





I think if it was a 20 year old male little would be said at all - and they probably would have left at the right seasonal window, and been more able to resist the go at all costs momentum sponsorship forces on any record attempt.





While I would need a lot of convincing to allow my daughter to do this, I brought her up to be independent and self-sufficient - so if she wanted to do this thing that much, I would support her. (She doesn't - I asked) Other than that there is a very old saying - "The dogs may bark, yet the Caravan travels on."





Anyone of proven ability and capability has every right to do these things. Far smarter than a seven year old flying across America, wouldn't you say?





Edit - Hear hear, well said Capt. John. There is far less injury and loss of life with young people at sea - compared to kids driving around the city at night bored and looking for some reason to exist at all......|||as far as your questions





who should pay, the press likes to stir up "news" even when there is no reason to. according to Abby's web site "AUSTRALIAN SEARCH AND RESCUE COSTS:


The Australian government has never asked us to contribute anything towards the recovery costs and has no intention of doing so. Australia 鈥?like the USA and other countries with significant coastlines, are part of the international agreement to assist those who need help within their search and rescue territories. All of these nations do this for citizens of all countries and this is funded by the respective governments. Australia has a robust media and each time there is a rescue 鈥?irrespective of the nationality of the person concerned 鈥?the media alone tends to make this an issue which in turn stirs up some emotions. We value and appreciate the Australian government and volunteer organizations 鈥?as we do the French authorities - who assisted Abby."





Do you think she should have been out there in the sea? I agree with capt. john, Why Not. she spent most of her life on a sailboat and had completed many voyages with her parents as well as some voyages alone prior to setting out on her world voyage. her older brother Zack successfully sailed around the world alone. many other teenagers have completed solo cruises.





the fact that she was found so quickly is a testament to her ability as a sailor.





hope this helps|||It's amazing....people in support of Abby Sunderland, comparing her taking a craft, going for circumnavigation of the globe through dangerous, treacherous southern oceans, to taking the family car and driving. What bent,convoluted logic.





Yes, parents do allow their kids of driving age to take the car to drive themselves. Yes, there are risks when driving, however responsible parents don't allow their kids to take a vehicle, go out on a 26,000+ mile trip, by themselves, into a dangerous, unpredictable environments where kids have greater odds of losing their lives.





What nonsense.