Abby Sunderland

Abigail “Abby” Sunderland (born October 19, 1993) is a young American sailor, who in 2010 attempted to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.[1] Her brother Zac Sunderland was the first to complete such a journey before turning 18.[2] She initially set sail from Marina del Rey, California in her 40-foot boat Wild Eyes on January 23, 2010[3] but had to stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She restarted her circumnavigation on February 6, 2010, planning to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted, leaving from and returning to Cabo San Lucas, but autopilot problems then forced Sunderland to stop at Cape Town for repairs.[4]

On June 10, 2010 while sailing in heavy seas and high winds in a remote area of the Indian Ocean, her sailboat was dismasted and she activated her two manual emergency EPIRB distress beacons, triggering a search and rescue effort. The following morning airborne searchers from Perth, Australia spotted her crippled boat and made radio contact with Sunderland, who said she was not injured. Her father later said Sunderland's attempted circumnavigation had ended.[5][6]

Sunderland is hoping to write a book about the journey, with plans to publish it on her return.[7]