Abby Sunderland - SoloRound

[Hirophant]

Originally Posted by bengtinge

Jessica's only fitted wind generator has also broken down, but she replaced it with a spare she had. (on April 21)

That's true, but hers did at least last 6 months compared to Abby's 3. And she carried a spare - she seems to have a spare for everything! It's interesting to note that having two autopilots turned out to be not enough in Abby's case; Jessica has three (wndvane + two electric ones).

I daresay Jessica managed to cadge more stuff for free though, I think all the important gear was provided by way of sponsorship by the firms concerned. But here again this is where preparation pays off: Jess had been writing to companies for 3 years looking for help. If Abby had had longer to prepare she might have managed to get more and better kit without breaking the bank. Some Tasman Sea kayakers told Jess last year that preparation is 75% of the achievement, whilst round the world racer Pete Goss told her that 80% of a race is won before it is started. Personally I think this is why Jessica has (touchwood) made it non-stop and Abby hasn't.

[TaoJones]

Repairs have been completed on Wild Eyes in Cape Town. She's back in the water, and there's a video up on YouTube from the first Sea Trial:

YouTube - Abby 3_0001.wmv

With the repairs and a clean bottom, Wild Eyes and Abby should fairly fly across the Indian Ocean.

TaoJones

[Hirophant]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

With the repairs and a clean bottom, Wild Eyes and Abby should fairly fly across the Indian Ocean.

I thought it was only the Bounty Boat expedition that lacked toilet paper on board, I didn't realise Abby had run out too!

[SvenG]

Abby's blog says she has new ones. From the description it sounds like the new ones are not AirEx. Does anyone know what she replaced the older ones with ?



-Sven

[DeepFrz]

Looks like an air breeze.

[Stillraining]

Dang!...they look way to low...I fear she will get tossed into one before the trip is over....nasty bite that is going to be.

[Hirophant]

Apart from the blades not tapering to a point, they look identical to her old generators. They're still Air ones of some sort that's for sure. Her main trouble though is that those rear solar panels are going to get snapped off in the Southern Ocean.... still, she's certainly got guts setting off for those parts at this time of year, I hope she makes it through. (She's leaving tomorrow (Friday)).

[Hirophant]

Well she's gone, on a Friday, lucky for some...

One thing about Abby is her blog does have the best photos of all the circumnavigator blogs I've seen (even though Laura Dekker has the best looking blog overall, with its traditional seafarer look). Take a look at the into-the-sun shot of her leaving Cape Town for instance, it's really gorgeous, you'd never guess it was a crap boat...

[osirissail]

Here's the photo:

[Stillraining]

Gods speed and Best of luck Abby!

[TaoJones]

Bon Voyage, Abby . . . Godspeed!

Nice video from her blog:

YouTube - Abby1

TaoJones

[Hirophant]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Here's the photo:

Actually this is the pic I was thinking of:

[Stillraining]

Thanks for posting that video...I noticed the wind gennys are further back then it looked in the other video...not so concerned now.

[speakeasy]

Nice video! Glad you posted it here. She's not as comfortable with a camera in her face as Jessie it appears. But she's a bit younger. Go get 'em kid. Dig deep and have a great voyage.

[dpex]

Originally Posted by speakeasy

Nice video! Glad you posted it here. She's not as comfortable with a camera in her face as Jessie it appears. But she's a bit younger. Go get 'em kid. Dig deep and have a great voyage.

That damned thing certainly gets along. Notice how, under a rumply main, only, she's doing 5/6 knots in mild wind. Which all gets me wondering why Abby's 'team' went for a handful rather than something more majestic (like an S&S 34) and little more controllable.

So now Abby is heading for the Horn in winter conditions, in a boat which seems to me to be designed for racing around the bouys.

Think of the extra taxes she wil pay! The wind chill is going to sap her strength, big time. The Sea's are likely to be huge. Just when she 'must' do something to maintain safety, her numbed mind and body might refuse.

If she gets through this then Abby will be the youngest person to have ever driven the Southern Ocean, in winter, in a totally inappropriate yacht, solo.

If she gets through this.

I so fervently hope she does.