Abandoned yacht found eight years later off the coast of South Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382693)
Rockingham, Australia
January 3, 2019 5:24pm CST
Back in 2010, US sailor, Abigail Sunderland, aged 16, failed in her attempt to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the world. Unfortunately, after rough seas dismasted her yacht, she was forced to abandon the attempt and her yacht, Wild Eyes, was left adrift at sea. Abby was rescued on June 12, 2010 in a joint effort by Qantas and a French commercial vessel.
Now, on New Year’s Eve, the upturned hull was found off the coast of South Australia. She said that there could be video footage stored in watertight containers on the yacht. There are no plans to try to salvage the yacht although a navigation warning has been issued. It must have been a very well-built craft to have lasted so long in the water.
Abby is now married, living in Alabama and expecting her fourth child.
American former sailor Abby Sunderland said her heart skipped a beat upon hearing her abandoned yacht Wild Eyes was found off the coast of South Australia.
24 people like this
25 responses
@Acefun (1220)
• Malaysia
4 Jan 19
She is indeed a brave and adventurous person at her young age. I did not that of traveling around the world independently. What inspire her to do so?
However, the brand of the yacht will see a spike in its price after the news virally report by the media.
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
4 Jan 19
Wow! That's quite a story. If only yachts could talk? Another miracle is that I spelled "yachts" right the first time and without peeking. 
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 19
@1hopefulman I think of Egypt as 'egg-wiped' and that helps. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 19
@valmnz She did. Later they separated. You still see her from time to time raising funds or supporting something. We met her once in Cowaramup in our south-west. She and her husband had a smallholding and some Clydesdale horses. She was at a ploughing demonstration with her horses.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128859)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jan 19
@JudyEv Are they going to just let it keep drifting at sea?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan 19
@moffittjc It seems so. They put out a hazard alert but I don't know how long that lasts.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (14812)
• Ireland
4 Jan 19
@judyev I have friends who set off from Belfast to circumnavigate and they have arrived in Barbados and decided to park the boat there for as long as possible. I'd love to give it a go but I imagine you would spend a lot of the time just getting splashed and my wife's hair would just go frizzy.
3 people like this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
4 Jan 19
Woow! I hope they find the videos and can show them, if it is possible after so long time.. 
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
5 Jan 19
@JudyEv That would be interesting - let´s see what happens..
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
4 Jan 19
That would be a treasure to preserve if it can be retrieved.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128859)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jan 19
I read about this in the news last night! She was very lucky to survive that storm back in 2010, and to be found and rescued several days later. She was in a very remote part of the ocean when the storm battered her boat. She was very smart to send out the distress signal when she did.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128859)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan 19
@JudyEv I remember her saying in the news article that she lost consciousness for a few seconds when her boat overturned in the storm. She is very lucky that she was able to recover quickly and summon for help.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jan 19
@moffittjc The outcome could have been far, far worse.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
4 Jan 19
She is lucky to have been found safe. Must have been very adventurous
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 19
@responsiveme The article didn't say. With four children (almost) I doubt she' have much time for sailing.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
5 Jan 19
@JudyEv yes,I do. Is she still into sailing?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jan 19
What an interesting thing this is! It would be great if the boat could be boarded. I think maybe @JohnRoberts is right.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 19
Imagine if there is video footage still in the boat. And yes, it would make a great movie.
@Deepizzaguy (122379)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Jan 19
It is an amazing story of survival and finding a happy home eight years after the accident.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 19
Yes, she was very fortunate to be found so quickly.
@Swayamsiddha (4354)
• New Delhi, India
4 Jan 19
Oh my god!! This sounds so interesting.
1 person likes this
