Abby Sunderland: Wild Eyes Sailboat?

16 year old Abby Sunderland set out on her yacht named Wild Eyes to claim the record of sailing around the world absolutely alone without making any stops.
Her sailboat got in trouble and Abby Sunderland needed to ask for help. After losing contact with the coast guard, she set off her emergency beacon locating devices after enduring multiple knockdowns in 60-knot winds and battling large swells and rogue waves.

Is her Wild Eyes sailboat safe for traveling around the world? I mean, Abby Sunderland is just a teenage girl.

30-foot waves knocked down the mast and sail on Sunderland’s boat, Wild Eyes, eventually leading her to set off a distress signal, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Her parents were alerted shortly afterward both of Abby Sunderland’s satellite devices on board her 40ft yacht, Wild Eyes, had been activated, one of which is attached to a survival suit meant to be used when a person is in the water. Abby’s father said he didn’t know if his daughter was in a life raft, aboard Wild Eyes, or whether it had overturned.

The reason for the unfortunate ending of Abby’s record attempt was due to the fact that the Wild Eyes sailboat was built for races and it was a very hard to handle sailboat. According to experts this particular kind of sailboat requires a very strong man, so it doesn’t matter how much experience Abby has she is just a teenager girl.

But she has now been in touch and is alive and well, her parents confirmed.

"Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!" they posted on her blog.

"The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know."