Posted: Jan 22, 2010 10:49 am EST
Currently 16 year-old Jessica Watson is sailing single-handed, non-stop around the world for the past three months. Her aim is to break the world record for the youngest to do so. Abby Sunderland is 5 months younger than Jessica and will be embark on 23 January, also with the aim to break this record.

Abby’s media team sent out the following press release:

Abby Sunderland to Embark this Saturday, January 23, 2010, to Become Youngest Person to Circumnavigate the World Solo, Without Stopping
by Matt Tolnick

Marina Del Rey, Cali. – 1/21/2010 – Abby Sunderland, a 16 year-old girl from Thousand Oaks, CA, is about to embark on a historic, high seas adventure.

She seeks to become the youngest person in human history to circumnavigate the globe without assistance and without once touching land.

Abby will depart from Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, CA, aboard Wild Eyes, her Open 40 racing sailboat, on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at approximately 11:30 A.M.

On the morning of her departure, at approximately 9:30 A.M., a brief press conference will take place, during which Abby, her brother, and her parents will all be present. The Sunderlands will field a series of moderated questions from the press, after which a Q&A will be offered to Abby’s fans in attendance.

Co-Sportsperson of the Year

Reared on sailboats as the daughter of a shipwright, Abby was recently named co-Sportsperson of the Year by the LA Daily News, sharing the distinction with her brother, Zac, who completed a circumnavigation himself in the summer of 2009.

Abby, who plans to regain the circumnavigation record that her brother briefly held, finds herself in friendly competition with Jessica Watson, a 16-year old Australian girl (albeit five months older than Abby) who departed in October 2009.

Ready to go now for many weeks

Abby is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s departure, one that was originally slated for November 2009, December 2009, and then last Saturday.

On the topic of her delayed departure, Abby expounded, “I’ve been ready to go now for many weeks. A technical issue followed by some weather delays has pushed back my departure, but I’m feeling strong and sound and ready to soberly embrace this challenge.”

She promises to keep her vibrant internet following abreast of key developments that happen while at sea through her blogspot, entitled “Soloround.” No fan will be more tuned in than Abby’s mother, Marianne Sunderland, who plans to keep tabs on Abby through the modern luxury of satellite phone.
Abby looks forward to a triumphant return to Southern California in the Summer of 2010. END

Jessica Watson was born on 18 May 1993 on the Gold Coast and currently lives in Buderim Australia. On 19 October 2009 16-year old Jessica Watson set sail on from Sydney Harbour passing the official start line of her around the world journey at Sydney Heads at 9.49 am. It is a estimated 23,000 mile, 230 day solo voyage.

Jessica’s goal is to sail solo around the world non-stop, unassisted. She says she has chosen a route that is a traditionally recognised path and distance for ‘around the world sailors’.

Part 1 – Departing Sydney and North to the Line Island; Part 2 – South to Chile and Cape Horn; Part 3 – Cape to Cape; Part 4 – The South Atlantic Ocean to the African continent; Part 5 – Rounding South Africa; Part 6 – Southern Ocean to Home.

Jessica stated on her website, “There are a few key targets I must achieve to qualify for around the world status. The approximate distance is 23,000 nautical miles (about 38,000 kilometres). I must depart and arrive from the same port, cross all lines of longitude, cross the equator entering into the Northern Hemisphere at least once and round the southern landmarks of South America and South Africa. This route is very similar to the one chosen by Kay Cottee, who returned in 1988.”

‘Ella’s Pink Lady’ specs according to Jessica’s website:
The S&S (Sparkman and Stephens) 34, a classic design from the famous Sparkman & Stephens, it is known firstly for its seaworthiness, toughness and track record. It is a boat capable of consistent speeds and one that Jessica can easily handle.

The S&S 34 became famous after Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin used them for their history making solo circumnavigations. There is now an S&S 34 association and hundreds of other S&S 34 have made and are making successful circumnavigations and offshore passages.

S&S 34’s are commonly entered in the notorious Sydney to Hobart and many participate in club racing all around Australia and the world.

Specifications:
Length Overall: 10.23m
Waterline Length: 7.37m
Beam: 3.08m
Draft: 1.83m

American Abby Sunderland who was born on 16 October 1993 and also aims to do a solo circumnavigation as the youngest to do so.

Abby’s boat ‘Wild Eyes’ is an Open 40 sailboat and a Scott Hollers Jutson design built in 2001 by ASA Yachts of Australia and went around the world as BTC Velocity in the 2002-'03 Around Alone, helmed by Bermuda sailor Alan Paris. The Open 40 was specifically designed for single-handed sailing in the Southern Ocean

Specifications:
LOA: 40’ / 12.19m
Beam: 11.21’ / 3.41m
Displacement: 7407 lbs. / 3360 Kg.
Ballast: 2094 lbs / 950 Kg.
Tonnage: 16 Gross, 15 Net
Engines: Yanmar – 18hp
See her website for more specs.

Both British Mike Perham and American Zac Sunderland sailed around the world assisted. They were 16 when they started their voyages. Zac turned 17 on November 29, 2008 and Mike turned 17 on March 16, 2009.

Mike stayed further out to sea, whereas Zac stayed closer to shore. Zac Sunderland departed on his yacht from Marina del Rey, California on 14 June 2008 and arrived back 13 months later on July 16, 2009. Mike Perham left from Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays on Saturday 15th November 2008 and crossed his finish line on 27 August 2009. He currently holds the record for the youngest sailor around the world, assisted.

A 14-year old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker’s dream is to become the youngest to sail around the world, but it her home country’s authorities haven’t given her permission to go.

17-year old Ryan Langley was born on July 4, 1992. He plans a non-stop circumnavigation with a Contessa 32'. According to the website the voyage will begin by heading westward from the Olympic Peninsula through the straights of Juan de Fuca to the open Pacific.

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