Trying To Survive
The survival gear kept her body warm, but that didn’t protect her face from the icy stings and taste of the sea.
The swells of the ocean had been both calming and thrilling, but now, they were filled with only danger. How long would she be lost out there?
Big Dreams
All teens have life goals. But for Abby Sunderland, her life’s dream was a little different – to the point where most people didn’t believe her.
She had loved the ocean for a long as she could remember. The look of the boundless horizon, the smell of salt water, and the feeling of the waves.
Supporters
At 16, being an accomplished mariner already made her proud.
But Abby wanted to sail around the world ... by herself. It was a terrifying prospect to a vast majority of people – being at the mercy of chaotic weather and no help for miles. Thankfully, she had a key set of supporters.
All Aboard
Abby loved her brother Zac more than anything.
Not only because he was the best big brother ever, but he was her biggest supporter. Next, even though her parents were worried about the entire idea, her father Laurence was a sailor as well and mother was on board as long as Abby was an expert in all safety measures.
Living Life
She knew, at her core, that tragedy could strike at any moment.
It didn’t matter if she was young. There was no guarantee of a long life to do all the things she dreamed of. She wanted more than anything to have this accomplishment as soon as possible. On January 23, 2010, Abby was finally ready.
Her Baby
Her ship, Wild Eyes, was fit for the sea.
Supplies were well stocked, and she was more than adept at being hyper-aware of weather patterns and how to deal with squalls. It might have sounded ridiculous, but the threat of pirates was also a real thing, and she was ready for that as well. The plan was for a full circle around world.
Smooth Start
The launch at Marina del Ray in California went smoothly, and so did the first 100 days.
Abby would sit at the helm, taking in the vastness of the world and profound sense of how small everyone was. It was thrilling and humbling at the same time. Then came a devastating, rouge wave.
Disaster
Abby felt the rush of adrenaline and her survival instincts kick in.
She had already fixed the engine and sails after one bad storm and prayed she could resolve this new problem. But as the ship relentlessly took on water, and the sails sat limps, she knew it was time for the worst-case scenario.
Waiting For Help
Abby felt a stab of sadness as she sent out the SOS signal and pulled on her wetsuit and then the survival suit on top of that.
She had everything she needed to wait it out. But how long until a rescue team arrived? And who would it even be? Over thirteen hours past and she sat helpless on her dying ship.
To The Rescue
It wasn’t just one country that rushed to help her.
Both French and Australian rescue teams set out double-time to get to her. By the look on their faces when they arrived, she wondered if they had been preparing for the worst. But there she sat, ready and waiting to leave. More than anything, she hoped they could salvage her boat.
More Bad News
The second punch to the gut came from the rescue captains.
Considering the weather and how much water the ship had taken on, it was officially lost to the ocean. Abby shed a tear as she said goodbye to Wild Eyes. The yellow hull bobbed over the blue depths as it turned into a speck and finally disappeared.
Long Way
It was bittersweet. On one hand, she was devastated that her plans had been cut short by Mother Nature.
On the other, she had covered over 12,000 miles in 5 months ... all by herself. The memories sat with her all the way through the journey back to dry land – where another surprise was waiting for her.
Surprise Visitor
Her big brother, Zac had flown all the way out to Reunion Island, France, just to be sure she was okay and be with her to take her home.
She threw her arms around him and burst into tears – some happy to be with family again, the rest mourning the end of her journey.
Beautiful Memories
When she finally settled back into her home back in California, with her very relieved parents, she excitedly recounted what she had gone through.
Watching the sunrise and breaking over a large swell were memories that would sustain her for the rest of her life. The world was also captivated.
International Inspiration
Since her journey had been shared on social media, Abby found countless people inspired by her actions and motivated to do what they dreamed of.
Whatever joy and pride had come back with her, now exploded to immeasurable levels. Even a failed journey had been worth it.