SYDNEY - The parents of US sailor Abby Sunderland have defended the 16-year-old's circumnavigation attempt, after she activated two emergency beacons when her yacht Wild Eyes was dismasted in the Indian Ocean.
As Abby was last night rescued 3700km southwest of Perth this morning, her plight sparked widespread criticism as
to whether a teenage girl should be allowed to sail solo around the world.
She is now on a French fishing vessel Ile De La Reunion heading to the French archipelago Kerguelen Islands.
However, she told ABC that she planned to make another bid at sailing around the world.
"I'm definitely going to sail around the world again or really give it another try," she said.
"I don't know when I'll get another chance to do it but I've wanted to sail around the world for years and I'm definitely going to do it some time."
Earlier, her mother Marianne said the family had sought to minimise the risks of the voyage by having a comprehensive support team in place, but doubted whether her daughter would attempt such a hazardous feat again. I am definitely having a bit of a knee-jerk reaction," she told CNN.
"[Abby] loves sailing. I don't think she will attempt anything of this magnitude again."
Abby's father Laurence Sunderland also defended his daughter's odyssey. "Sailing and life in general is dangerous," he said. "Teenagers drive cars. Does that mean teenagers shouldn't drive a car? I think people who hold that opinion have lost their zeal for life."
But Australian environmentalist and yachtsman Ian Kiernan said the teenager's adventure was irresponsible.
"I don't know what she's doing in the ocean as a 16-year-old in the middle of winter," he told Sky News.
"It's just foolhardy. The sea respects no person. We need adventures for sure, but adventurers who do foolhardy things and put their rescuers at risk, it should not be allowed."
Abby left Los Angeles on January 23 in the hope of becoming the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, attempting to better Jessica Watson.
She gave up that goal in April when her yacht Wild Eyes needed to be repaired, but continued her journey. A French fishing vessel rescued her last night.
- AAP
