Parents of rescued teenage sailor Abby Sunderland accused of risking her life
Sailing experts condemn family for allowing 16-year-old American girl to attempt a solo round-the-world voyage
Sixteen-year-old American Abby Sunderland was picked up from her stricken vessel by a dinghy launched from the French fishing boat Ile de la Reunion.
Her father, Laurence Sunderland, speaking to reporters outside their California home, said his daughter was safe and well: "She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands. She was in good spirits… she talked to her mother."
However, the same cannot be said of Sunderland's yacht, Wild Eyes. The vessel was apparently pounded by gigantic waves that had destroyed its mast, which in turn knocked out her satellite communications equipment. The yacht was then effectively left floundering midway between Africa and Australia. It is likely to be allowed to sink.
Sunderland had activated an emergency beacon which started a huge search and rescue operation involving Australia, America and France. Numerous ships became involved in the hunt, as well as a chartered jet which spotted the teenager late on Thursday. Sunderland was able to radio the plane and say report that was fit and had food and water supplies.
The rescue itself was not without incident as rough seas saw the captain of the French boat fall into the water. "He was fished out in difficult conditions," said a statement from the French territory of Reunion Island.
Though the search for Sunderland ended happily, it has caused a debate on the wisdom of such young sailors making dramatic and dangerous journeys. Sunderland was following the achievement of her brother, Zac, who had made the solo journey around the world at the age of 17, becoming the youngest person in the world to do so.
Many critics of Sunderland – and her parents – have criticised the decision to let her go on such a journey. "It's not something that a 16-year-old should be able to decide whether they're capable of doing it. It's potentially irresponsible for the parents," Michael Kalin, junior director of San Francisco's St Francis Yacht Club, told the Associated Press.