The ‘born-again’ American teenager
who had been attempting to sail solo around the world defends herself against
the critics of her young age

INDIAN
OCEAN (ANS)- Sixteen-year-old American Abby Sunderland, a
“born again” teenage girl attempting to sail solo around the world,
was rescued on Saturday, June 12, 2010 in a remote spot of the Indian
Ocean, bringing to a successful conclusion the dramatic bid to save her life.

Abby, who is part of a
Southern California Christian family, was picked up from her stricken vessel by
a dinghy launched from the French fishing boat Ile de la Reunion.

Now she has sent a message to her
friends via her blog (http://soloround.blogspot.com/ ) in which
she said, “Hey everyone, Sorry I haven’t written in so long as you
probably already know I had a pretty rough couple of days. I can’t write much
now as I am typing on a French key pad as well as trying to stay seated in a
bouncy fishing boat.

“The long and the short of it
is, well, one long wave, and one short mast (short meaning two inch stub.) I’ll
write a more detailed blog later, just wanted to let every one know I am safe
and sound on a great big fishing boat headed I am not exactly sure where.

“Crazy is the word that really
describes everything that has happened best.

“Within a few minutes of being
on board the fishing boat, I was already getting calls from the press. I don’t
know how they got the number but it seems everybody is eager to pounce on my
story now that something bad has happened.

“There are plenty of things
people can think of to blame for my situation; my age, the time of year and
many more. The truth is, I was in a storm and you don’t sail through the Indian
Ocean without getting in at least one storm. It wasn’t the time of year it was
just a Southern Ocean storm. Storms are part of the deal when you set out to
sail around the world.

“As for age, since when does
age create gigantic waves and storms?

“I keep hitting the wrong keys
and am still trying to get over the fact that I will never see my Wild Eyes
again. So I’ll write more later.”

Since Abby initially went missing,
her family has faced criticism for allowing someone so young to attempt
something so dangerous.

Paul Harris, writing in the UK-based
newspaper, The Observer, said, “..the family have robustly defended
themselves. They have pointed out that Abby is a highly experienced and highly
skilled sailor. They have even used the debate to criticized the too-careful
tendency of much modern parenting advice and said that a certain amount of
risky challenge was healthy for an adventurous child.”

Abby’s father, Laurence Sunderland
said, “I never questioned my decision in letting her go. In this day and
age we get overprotective with our children. Look at how many teenagers die in
cars every year. Should we let teenagers drive cars? I think it’d be silly if
we didn’t.”

Abby Sunderland had been training
all her life in the art of sailing skills and seamanship.

ANS correspondent, Tony Ashlin said
at the time that she initially sent off, “Since she was thirteen years old
she has been dreaming of sailing solo around the world. Now at the age of
sixteen her dream has become a reality. Abby set sail on January 23, 2010 from
Marina Del Rey near Los Angeles, California on her Australian built 40 foot
solo rigged sloop named ‘Wild Eyes.’

“The Sunderland family lives in
Thousand Oaks, California and Abby has an older brother, Zac, along with five
younger siblings. Last year, Zac broke records by being the first person under
the age of 18 to solo-circumnavigate the world in his 36 foot sailboat,
‘Intrepid.’

“Abby is very well aware of the
life threatening risks involved in such a voyage and it is quite a leap of
faith for her and her parents who not only granted permission but to assisted,
equipped and encouraged both their teenaged son and daughter for such a risky
voyage.”

In a video interview posted on her
web site, Abby’s father, Lawrence said, “We are ‘Born-Again’ Christians,
and we don’t make any decision just based on feeling or even on sound
knowledge. We also pray about it. The conviction of prayer and the answer to
prayer has led to where we are with Abigail’s campaign and definitely has help
in the whole process and scope of making decisions.”

For more information, go to: www.abbysunderland.com. You
can also check out her blog which is located at: http://soloround.blogspot.com

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About Dan Wooding

Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 46 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST
(Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service
(ANS).

Wooding was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding also a regular contributor to The Weekend Stand on the Crawford Broadcasting Network, and a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries. He is the author of some 43 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books.

To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, also recently released “God’s Ambassadors in Japan” which is available at amazon.com.

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