ABBY ALIVE!

World prayers were answered overnight as an Australian Search & Rescue arrive on the scene in the Indian Ocean to find the sailing vessel Wild Eyes floating upright, but with a damaged mast. 16 year old sailing Captain Abby Sunderland made radio contact with the plane and reports she is fine. A French fishing vessel will arrive tomorrow to pick up Abby and bring her to dry ground. Thank you, God.

Abby had reported multiple knockdowns in 40 foot seas recently, during a satellite phone call with her parents at approximately 4AM Tuesday.  The call went dead and four hours later an emergency monitoring center received two activations of emergency locator beacon; one attached to the ship and the other a personal locator beacon Abby wears at all times aboard (similar to the one I carry).

The teen sailor had been on a quest to sail solo, non-stop, around the globe.  After four months and more than 10,000 nautical miles she was forced to make landfall in Cape Town, South Africa after experiencing mechanical problems with her auto pilot and its backup.  Following repairs Abby re-embarked on her journey May 21st, a Friday.  The day before her last launch, she wrote on her blog, "Yes, I do know all the superstitions and about how you're not supposed to leave on a Friday, but as things are right now waiting a day or two to get out of here could bring a whole new set of troubles weather wise. I know that a lot of people have been worrying about my next leg with how late it is in the season."

Abbys blog can be read at: soloround.blogspot.com )