Today's Report
June 11/10 0800 JST / 1400 local
Position: 16°26'N, 139°49'W (North Pacific Ocean)
Remaining distance to Yokohama finish: 17.3%
The news was not good early this morning when the family and support team of 16-year-old solo sailor Abby Sunderland announced that two of her emergency EPIRBs had been triggered, apparently manually by her. Worse, there had been no word from her over the Iridium sat phone they use for daily communication. She had been in severe weather conditions in the Indian Ocean midway between Africa and Australia.
Here is the most authoritative report (from the editors of Cruising World) we've been able to find. A rescue effort has been launched, with the planned flyover of a plane from Australia. It could take a day or more for a ship to reach her position as indicated by the EPIRB signals.
Her most recent blog entry can be seen here.
Saito-san expressed his deep concern this morning and said he hopes for the best for the young sailor.
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He was able to make 124 nm during the period assisted by brisk trades registering 16-23 kts, on somewhat reduced seas of 2.5 meters.
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The Hawaii waypoint has again been adjusted after we conferred with Saito-san. He says he plans to pass just below the big island of Hawaii, then will turn north to make the final 200 nm to Honolulu.
In the image we have indicated the two waypoints; he had 1,116 nm to go to WP2 (set just outside Honolulu) as of the morning call.
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Distance in last 24 hours: 124 nm over ground / 124 nm DMG
Total distance completed: 23,368 nm
To Yokohama: 4,832 nm
To Hawaii WP2: 1,116 nm
Heading: 273°
Reported boat speed: 5.0 kts
Average boat speed: 5.2 kts
Average daily DMG over last 7 days: 119 nm
Weather: Overcast & cool
Temperature: 21.0° C
Barometer: 1014 hPa
Wind (from): 18-23 kts, ENE expected to be 18-21 kts ENE over next 19 hrs
Waves: 2.5 m
Current (from): E at 0.5 kts (good)
Engine: 0.0 hrs
Generator: 11.0 hrs
Sails: Genoa 50%, staysail 0%, mainsail 2-pt reef
Position Map
