Abby Sunderland Quits Around-the-World Sail Record Attempt

[The Straight Story]

Abby Sunderland Quits Around-the-World Sail Record Attempt
16-Year-Old Says She Needs to Fix Navigation Device, Will Continue Solo Sail After Repair


Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old California girl who was trying to become the youngest person to sail solo nonstop around the world, has given up her attempt to set the record, she said on her blog.

"I have some big news today. It's not necessarily good news, but the way I look at it, it's not bad either," Sunderland posted Saturday. "I am going to be pulling into Cape Town for repairs thus ending my non-stop attempt."

The problem, she said, was that her main auto pilot was broken, and after discussions with her team, she decided she needed to get it fixed.

"It's one thing to sail across an ocean with one well-working auto pilot, it's another to keep going with one that is not at all reliable," she wrote.

....


"I know that some people will look on my trip as a failure because of this, and there really isn't anything that I can do about that," she wrote. "When you're surrounded by critics it can be hard to remember your own goals and expectations, you start to judge yourself by what other people are saying."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/16-year-abby-sunderland-quits-world-sail-record/story?id=10471925

[CTyankee]

1. Failure?! She'd be an IDIOT not to do this. What a level headed 16 year old!

She's facing reality head on. What a great kid, ready to take on the challenge but understanding that without an accurate way to pilot herself across treacherous seas, she is setting herself up for disaster.

She strikes me as a level headed, intelligent person. Nothing resembling failure!

[cbayer]

2. Very sad for Abby. I know that she, her family and her supporters (including me)

are all very disappointed. But she has made a wise decision.

In other good news, Jessica Watson is just days from home. Go, Jessica!!!!


http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/index.htm
:toast: